With Diwali just around the corner, flight ticket prices from Chennai to several destinations within Tamil Nadu and across India have shot up sharply. The surge comes as thousands of residents rush to book their tickets to head home for the festival season.
According to a report, airfares have risen by nearly 300–400% compared to regular days, leaving travellers worried. On key Tamil Nadu routes, fares have seen a drastic jump — Chennai to Madurai now costs ₹17,683 (up from ₹3,129), Chennai to Trichy ₹15,233 (up from ₹3,608), Chennai to Thoothukudi ₹17,053, and Chennai to Coimbatore ₹17,158.
The steep hike is not limited to within the state. Fares from Chennai to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Guwahati have also seen similar increases. A Chennai–Delhi ticket that usually costs around ₹5,933 now stands at ₹30,414.
With train and bus tickets selling out fast, many passengers have turned to air travel as their only option. Airlines, facing heavy festive demand, are believed to have raised prices multiple times, especially for last-minute bookings.
Travel agents expect fares to remain high until October 25, when most Diwali travel plans are completed.