Janmashtami weekend triggers over 16% surge in domestic flight prices
What's the story
The upcoming long weekend, coinciding with the vibrant festival of Krishna Janmashtami, has triggered a significant increase in domestic airfares.
According to data from Cleartrip, average domestic flight fares have risen by 16.3% compared to last year.
This surge is attributed to last-minute travel plans and trips planned by individuals eager to celebrate this religious event.
Booking surge
Kolkata leads in air bookings amid festive travel rush
The data further revealed that Kolkata has experienced the highest increase in air bookings with a staggering 70.1% spike.
Other cities witnessing significant growth include Hyderabad (57.6%), Bengaluru (55.4%), Pune (54.7%), New Delhi (48.9%), Mumbai (43.5%), and Lucknow (39.7%).
This surge underscores the popularity of these destinations during the festive period, and their appeal to travelers seeking to make the most of the extended weekend occasioned by Janmashtami on Monday, August 26, this year.
Accommodation trend
Hotel prices drop as much as 29.5%
Despite the surge in air travel, hotel prices in popular holiday and religious destinations like Lonavala and Varanasi have seen a significant decrease.
Varanasi has witnessed a 29.5% drop in fares while Lonavala has experienced a 22.5% decline.
The trend suggests while more people are traveling due to the long weekend, they are also benefiting from lower accommodation costs at these sought-after locations.