Firdous Ahmad
Srinagar, Dec 6: Airfares on the Srinagar–New Delhi route have skyrocketed to nearly ₹25,000 per passenger, triggering frustration among travellers and drawing concern from tourism stakeholders who fear a setback to winter tourism in Kashmir. Many passengers say the price surge has made travelling outside the Valley costlier than flying to Dubai.
For the past week, travellers have been complaining that one-way tickets to Delhi — which normally range between ₹5,000 and ₹9,000 during regular months — have suddenly jumped to record levels. On several travel portals, the airfare for Srinagar–Delhi flights for the coming days is being quoted between ₹18,000 and ₹25,000.
Dozens of passengers at Srinagar International Airport said the steep hike has left them stranded, unable to reschedule or plan travel.
“My son has a medical appointment in Delhi, but the ticket prices are beyond our reach. We checked multiple airlines, but everything is above ₹20,000. How can a common person afford this?” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Anantnag, who has postponed his travel for a week hoping for fares to drop.
Another traveller from Baramulla, Farhana Ashraf, who was supposed to travel for an exam, said she had to cancel her plans. “I found a return ticket to Dubai cheaper than a one-way fare to Delhi. This is exploitation. Students like us are suffering the most,” she said.
Travel agents and tourism operators said the abnormal airfare hike is likely to dent tourism inflow, especially when Kashmir is gearing up for peak winter season and expected tourist rush around Christmas and New Year.
“We were expecting a good tourist season with snow arrivals in Gulmarg and Pahalgam, but such fare spikes discourage tourists. Many inquiries have dropped in the last two days,” said Mehrajuddin Shah, a tour operator in Srinagar.
Hoteliers echoed similar concerns, saying that unregulated airfare fluctuation has always been a recurring challenge for Kashmir tourism. “When travel becomes unaffordable, the first impact is on tourism. We appeal to the government and aviation authorities to intervene and rationalise fares,” said Hilal Ahmad, who runs a hotel in Srinagar.
Industry players are urging the central government to consider fare caps on the Srinagar sector, especially during winter when strong connectivity is crucial. Meanwhile, passengers continue to demand immediate measures to prevent arbitrary pricing.
Kashmir receives heavy tourist footfall during winter months, and any prolonged airfare hike could influence bookings, travel sentiment, and the overall tourism economy in the Valley.
