Sky-High Airfares: Why a Trip to Kashmir Costs More Than Dubai
Srinagar 31 Dec: In a surprising twist, the airfares from Delhi to Srinagar have soared to unprecedented levels, surpassing even the cost of international travel to Dubai. As of December 31st, a quick search reveals that while flights from Delhi to Dubai are priced between ₹10,000 to ₹13,000, a journey from Delhi to Srinagar demands a hefty ₹21,623. This disparity in airfare has left many travelers astonished and frustrated.
The situation is no different for other major cities. Airfares from Mumbai to Srinagar are listed at an eye-watering ₹21,843, and flights from Bangalore to Srinagar exceed ₹20,000. This dramatic rise in airfares is attributed to two primary factors: the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to New Year’s Eve celebrations, and the surge in tourist inflow to Kashmir.
The skyrocketing airfares are impacting a wide range of travelers, including patients, students, and tourists, who now face significant financial burdens to travel between these destinations. A senior civil aviation official explained, “Due to high demand and limited supply, airfares from Delhi to Srinagar and Mumbai to Srinagar have seen a significant increase.”
Local travel agents and residents are vocal about their concerns. Bashir Ahmad, a travel agent, urged the government to take strict actions against the soaring airfares, suggesting the implementation of a fare cap mechanism. “It’s not just tourists who suffer; students, patients, and businesspeople are the majority affected by this arbitrary price hike,” Ahmad emphasized.
Residents like Irshad Ahmad have their own stories of financial strain. Ahmad recounted his experience, “I paid ₹21,000 per passenger airfare from Delhi to Srinagar. We were ten family members, and our total airfare cost was ₹2.10 lakh because we traveled to Delhi for my father’s critical surgery and had our children with us, as there was nobody here to look after them.”
The issue has caught the attention of a parliamentary panel, which highlighted the negative impact of rising airfares on tourism. In its report, the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture noted, “Exorbitant air ticket prices are a major dampener. Escalating airfares of ‘low cost’ carriers during peak seasons deter tourist footfall in the region. With fares equivalent to nearby foreign destinations, tourists may prefer those over visiting J&K.”
In response, the Ministry of Tourism has engaged with the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) to address these concerns. However, the MoCA has stated that airfares are currently not regulated by the government, leaving the issue of high prices unresolved for now.
