If you’re an Indian expat in the UAE planning to fly home for Diwali, brace yourself: ticket prices are climbing fast, and travel agents say the trend is only headed one way as the festival nears.
UAE-India Diwali Airfares Are Soaring & Here’s What You Are Paying!
Indian travellers preparing to fly home for Dussehra and Diwali are already feeling the pinch, with fares rising sharply on both UAE-India international routes and key domestic corridors within India, as millions plan their journeys around the festive weekend.
What Delhi Flights From The UAE Are Costing Right Now
A check of airline websites for November 5 travel showed economy fares to Delhi from Dubai starting at AED1,013 on SpiceJet, AED1,115 on Air India, AED1,181 on Air India Express and AED1,214 on IndiGo, with IndiGo business class touching around AED2,467. From Sharjah, IndiGo starts at AED1,034, while Air India, Air India Express and SpiceJet range between AED1,695 and over AED2,064. Abu Dhabi departures aren’t much cheaper, priced between AED 1,243 and AED 1,435 across carriers. Fares can shift depending on seat availability, booking time and cabin class.
Why UAE-Based Indians Should Pay Attention
With Diwali drawing huge numbers of UAE-based Indians back to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, demand is intense. Travellers with flexible dates have a better chance of comparing fares across airlines and days, while those booking last-minute risk being pushed into pricier fare categories as cheaper seats sell out.
Domestic India Routes Are Climbing Too
It isn’t just international travel feeling the squeeze. Return fares for November 6-8 on India’s domestic routes are already elevated, with Delhi-Hyderabad and Delhi-Kolkata both around ₹17,000-18,000, Delhi-Bengaluru near ₹16,000 and Delhi-Mumbai around ₹13,000.
Why The Prices Are Rising
Airlines’ dynamic pricing means fares rise as cheaper seats sell out, and tighter capacity is compounding the squeeze. India’s domestic scheduled capacity fell 5.6 per cent year-on-year this September, with IndiGo down 4.5 per cent and Air India down 8.8 per cent.
How To Save On Your Diwali Ticket
Compare dates and airlines, avoid peak Diwali travel days, check alternate airports, consider one-stop connections, book early, and track fares with price alerts before the cheaper seats disappear altogether.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/ Dmitry Bogdanov
FAQs
How can I find cheaper Diwali flights?
Compare dates and airlines, avoid peak travel days, consider connecting flights, and book early.
Which UAE-India routes are most expensive right now?
Sharjah to Delhi and Abu Dhabi to Delhi are showing some of the steepest fare jumps.
