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Diwali airfares soar despite expanded Udaipur winter schedule

The increased demand during the festive period is likely to keep airfare prices high

 

As Diwali festival is approaching, airfares are escalating rapidly. Additionally, starting from October 29, a winter schedule will be implemented at Dabok Airport, Udaipur. This schedule will see an increase in the number of cities served from 8 to 10, and the total number of flights will rise from 18 to 27. However, it is important to note that despite these developments, no relief in fares is anticipated due to the holiday season. The increased demand during the festive period is likely to keep airfare prices high.

Even in the days leading up to Diwali, rental rates have surged well above the usual rates. For the Udaipur to Jaipur route, between November 9 and November 16, the minimum rental cost has risen to Rs 10,000, with the maximum now reaching Rs 15,000. This is a notable increase compared to the rates that ranged from Rs 5,000 to 8,000 until October 15, 2023. The holiday season demand is clearly driving up prices for transportation services.

In the period leading up to Diwali, from October 16 to November 8, the rental prices have experienced a notable increase, with the minimum cost ranging from Rs 8,000 to a maximum of Rs 10,000. Similarly, for the Udaipur to Delhi route, the usual rental rates hover between a minimum of 5,500 and a maximum of Rs 8,000 on regular days. However, during the Diwali season, these prices have escalated to a minimum of 11,000 and a maximum of Rs 16,000. Likewise, the rental rates for the Udaipur to Mumbai route are typically in the range of Rs 5,000 to 10,000 on regular days, but during the festival season, they have surged to as high as Rs 10,000 to 16,000.

According to aviation expert Ashok Joshi, when the number of passengers increases, ticket prices tend to rise. A substantial population of students and working professionals hailing from Udaipur, Rajsamand, Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara, and Sirohi districts reside in major cities such as Jaipur, Delhi, and Mumbai. Additionally, residents from these regions also live in Gulf countries. They typically arrive in Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur via international flights and then proceed to Udaipur. During Diwali, there is a strong desire for everyone to return to their homes.

While the winter schedule is slated to be implemented from October 29, increasing the number of flights, it is unlikely to alleviate the situation in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur. This is because individuals arriving from abroad land at these airports and then travel to Udaipur. Currently, there are 18 flights operating between Udaipur and eight cities, including Jaipur, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Indore. On average, 3,333 passengers travel to and from Udaipur daily.

Source: Click Here