Mumbai: Feb is typically considered a lean period for air travel, but this year is different for the four domestic carriers that have launched special flights to transport pilgrims for the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.
The ongoing mela, which attracts millions from around the world, has changed the demand-supply dynamics to such an extent that the cheapest fare for a to-and-fro weekend visit on a Feb 15-16 non-stop flight from Bengaluru and Kolkata to Prayagraj was priced at Rs 58,000 Saturday. From Mumbai, return fares began at Rs 42,000; the geographically closer Delhi was the best bet with return fares starting at Rs 31,000. However, if you book for travel during a weekend in March—Maha Kumbh Mela ends on Feb 26—you will find the fares have dropped to Rs 14,000 for a return ticket from Mumbai and Rs 18,000 from Bengaluru.
Weekday travel for Feb is cheaper. For instance, a return from Bengaluru for Feb 18-20 is priced at Rs 38,000. But not when the dates with religious significance fall on weekdays such as Feb 3, 12, and 26. Four airlines, Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air, are operating the special flights for the mela.
Travel portal Skyscanner said its data showed peak travel demand for Jan 28, indicating a higher travel interest due to the second Shahi Snan. “Jan 28 recorded a staggering 675% increase in booking volume compared to a typical day. Compared to the same time last year when no event was held in Prayagraj, the volume of bookings surged by 1,776%,” it said.
The top five international cities that searched for travel to Prayagraj around the dates were Dubai, London, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Doha, it added. The data also revealed major week-on-week growth (Jan 20 week compared to Jan 13 week) in searches for travel in Feb for routes such as Hyderabad-Prayagraj (2815%), Pune-Prayagraj (1345%), and Prayagraj-Mumbai (870%).
Later in the night, the DGCA posted on X that it had approved 81 additional flights in Jan to meet increased demand for travel to Prayagraj. That raised Prayagraj connectivity to 132 flights from across India, it said. The move comes after DGCA held meetings with airlines on Jan 23 and urged them to increase capacity and rationlise fares.
