By Tanisha Bali on 5.10.2026
Planning to fly home for Diwali, Christmas or another major festival? You may notice that the same flight can cost much more during the holiday rush. But why does this happen?
Airlines generally offer different fare levels for the same flight. The cheaper seats are usually limited. Once those seats are booked, travellers may only see the next, more expensive fare categories. That is one reason a ticket can become costly as the travel date gets closer.
Routes connecting major cities with popular hometown destinations can experience especially strong demand during festivals. For example, flights between big cities and destinations such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow or Jaipur may become highly sought after around major holidays.
“Imagine that hundreds of people want to travel on the same day, but there are only a limited number of flights. Even if an airline has plenty of seats across its entire network, seats on a particular route can become difficult to find. Less availability combined with strong demand can push fares higher.
Travellers naturally prefer comfortable timings. Morning flights, evening flights and non-stop services can be more attractive than flights with long layovers or inconvenient departure times. When demand is high, these convenient options may sell faster.
Compare several airlines📅 Check nearby travel dates 🕐 Look at different departure times 🛫 Compare non-stop and connecting flights 🔎 Check nearby airports when practical 💳 Compare the final price, not just the headline fare