Kashmir airfares stabilize after govt intervention following Pahalgam terror attack

Kolkata: After four days of chaos and skyrocketing airfares following the terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead and several injured, flight tickets from Srinagar to Kolkata and Delhi finally stabilised. Tourists looking to exit Kashmir in a hurry triggered a mad rush, sending fares soaring to unprecedented levels. However, with govt intervention and additional flights, normalcy in fares and booking returned to Kashmir's air travel sector.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, desperate travellers faced a dire situation. As reported earlier by TOI, no seats were available on any direct flight between Srinagar and Kolkata from Wednesday to Friday. Those who found tickets faced eye-watering prices between Rs 34,000 and Rs 81,000 — a steep climb from the usual Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000 rates.
The situation started improving from Friday evening, and by Sunday, normalcy returned. Tickets for IndiGo's direct Srinagar-Kolkata flight were available again at the standard fare of Rs 13,200 on Sunday. On Monday, direct flights operated by both Air India Express and IndiGo offered tickets at regular prices — Rs 12,000 and Rs 13,200 respectively.
Following the terror attack that killed 25 tourists and one local Kashmiri youth, the Civil Aviation Ministry stepped in quickly to address the situation. It operated 110 flights, including eight additional services, to and from Srinagar Airport to facilitate the evacuation of stranded tourists. Data shared by Srinagar Airport showed that between April 21 and April 26, 63,488 passengers flew out of the airport trying to head back home. On Thursday alone (April 24), Srinagar Airport handled 15,162 passengers in 112 flights, a number usually seen only during peak tourist seasons.
"The Civil Aviation Ministry directed airlines to maintain regular fare levels on the Srinagar route and operate additional flights to ensure that no passenger is burdened during this sensitive time," a ministry spokesperson said. "After our intervention, fares have now dropped significantly."
The ministry also clarified the reasons behind the earlier spike, stating that connecting flights typically aggregate the cost of each individual segment. In some cases, economy and business class fares were shown together, leading to confusion. Furthermore, when economy class seats sold out, the system automatically displayed business class fares, creating a misleading perception of inflated prices. "Passengers are encouraged to ensure that they receive accurate fare information, distinctly categorised for economy, premium economy, and business class," the ministry advised in a public statement.
The terror attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in South Kashmir, sent shockwaves across the country and triggered immediate travel disruptions. The attack not only jeopardised the safety of tourists but also threatened to undo months of painstaking efforts to revive tourism in the Valley. "While air travel is slowly stabilising, the tourism sector faces an uphill battle to restore confidence. Tour operators and hoteliers are bracing for a wave of cancellations in what was shaping up to be a promising summer season," said Anil Punjabi, a national committee member of TAFI (Travel Agents Federation of India).
As flights resume regular schedules and prices stabilise, authorities are urging travellers to stay informed and verify fare structures to avoid confusion in the future. MSID:: 120671972 413 |
Kolkata: After four days of chaos and skyrocketing airfares following the terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead and several injured, flight tickets from Srinagar to Kolkata and Delhi finally stabilised. Tourists looking to exit Kashmir in a hurry triggered a mad rush, sending fares soaring to unprecedented levels. However, with govt intervention and additional flights, normalcy in fares and booking returned to Kashmir's air travel sector.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, desperate travellers faced a dire situation. As reported earlier by TOI, no seats were available on any direct flight between Srinagar and Kolkata from Wednesday to Friday. Those who found tickets faced eye-watering prices between Rs 34,000 and Rs 81,000 — a steep climb from the usual Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000 rates.
The situation started improving from Friday evening, and by Sunday, normalcy returned. Tickets for IndiGo's direct Srinagar-Kolkata flight were available again at the standard fare of Rs 13,200 on Sunday. On Monday, direct flights operated by both Air India Express and IndiGo offered tickets at regular prices — Rs 12,000 and Rs 13,200 respectively.
Following the terror attack that killed 25 tourists and one local Kashmiri youth, the Civil Aviation Ministry stepped in quickly to address the situation. It operated 110 flights, including eight additional services, to and from Srinagar Airport to facilitate the evacuation of stranded tourists. Data shared by Srinagar Airport showed that between April 21 and April 26, 63,488 passengers flew out of the airport trying to head back home. On Thursday alone (April 24), Srinagar Airport handled 15,162 passengers in 112 flights, a number usually seen only during peak tourist seasons.
"The Civil Aviation Ministry directed airlines to maintain regular fare levels on the Srinagar route and operate additional flights to ensure that no passenger is burdened during this sensitive time," a ministry spokesperson said. "After our intervention, fares have now dropped significantly."
The ministry also clarified the reasons behind the earlier spike, stating that connecting flights typically aggregate the cost of each individual segment. In some cases, economy and business class fares were shown together, leading to confusion. Furthermore, when economy class seats sold out, the system automatically displayed business class fares, creating a misleading perception of inflated prices. "Passengers are encouraged to ensure that they receive accurate fare information, distinctly categorised for economy, premium economy, and business class," the ministry advised in a public statement.
The terror attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in South Kashmir, sent shockwaves across the country and triggered immediate travel disruptions. The attack not only jeopardised the safety of tourists but also threatened to undo months of painstaking efforts to revive tourism in the Valley. "While air travel is slowly stabilising, the tourism sector faces an uphill battle to restore confidence. Tour operators and hoteliers are bracing for a wave of cancellations in what was shaping up to be a promising summer season," said Anil Punjabi, a national committee member of TAFI (Travel Agents Federation of India).
As flights resume regular schedules and prices stabilise, authorities are urging travellers to stay informed and verify fare structures to avoid confusion in the future. MSID:: 120671972 413 |