📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Apurba Biswas
Travel
Diwali Air Travel Falls 12% as Gujarat Holidaymakers Opt for Road Trips
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 15 Nov 2026, 02:36 PM
👁 20
Air passenger bookings for the Diwali period dropped by 12%, prompting many travellers from Gujarat to switch to road transport as ticket prices surged.
Airline bookings for the festive Diwali window fell by about 12% compared with the previous year, according to data compiled by industry sources. The decline was most pronounced among travellers from Gujarat, a state that traditionally sees a surge in outbound holiday traffic.
Travel experts attribute the dip to sharply higher airfares that coincided with the peak travel season. With ticket prices climbing, many Gujarat residents opted to drive to their destinations, leading to a noticeable shift from airports to highways and state roads.
Airlines have acknowledged the price sensitivity and said they are reviewing fare structures for future festivals. Meanwhile, transport authorities in Gujarat are monitoring the increased road traffic to ensure safety and manage congestion during the holiday rush.
Travel experts attribute the dip to sharply higher airfares that coincided with the peak travel season. With ticket prices climbing, many Gujarat residents opted to drive to their destinations, leading to a noticeable shift from airports to highways and state roads.
Airlines have acknowledged the price sensitivity and said they are reviewing fare structures for future festivals. Meanwhile, transport authorities in Gujarat are monitoring the increased road traffic to ensure safety and manage congestion during the holiday rush.