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44% of respondents stated that airfares to Prayagraj were “6-8 times the regular fares.
Devotees gather to take holy dip at the Sangam on the eve of ‘Mauni Amavasya’ during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, in Prayagraj, on January 28. (PTI Photo)
With hordes of people traveling to Prayagraj by cars, buses, and trains for the holy dip during the ongoing Mahakumbh Mela, airfares have surged by 300% to 600% or even more on certain routes. While the government has assured citizens that 81 additional flights were introduced on the Prayagraj route in January, frustrated travelers have taken to social media to express their anger.
Some of the comments include:
“Flight prices to Prayagraj have become astronomical. Airlines seem to be looting citizens who just want to attend the spiritual festival. Please help.”
“Flights from India to many international destinations are cheaper than traveling to Prayagraj. The worst part? The government has no control over this blatant exploitation, looting the common people in the name of a spiritual tour for the Mahakumbh.”
“Bhubaneswar to Bangkok costs INR 10K, while Bhubaneswar to Prayagraj flights cost INR 39K…”
Many more similar complaints have surfaced online.
Following the release of the LocalCircles survey last Sunday, which highlighted the issue of exorbitant airfares to Mahakumbh, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has attempted to reassure travelers. It announced that budget airlines SpiceJet and Akasa Air would add more flights to Prayagraj airport. According to an official statement, SpiceJet will introduce flights between Prayagraj and several cities, adding approximately 43,000 seats in February. Additionally, Akasa Air will soon begin operating flights connecting Prayagraj with Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, offering nine flights from Ahmedabad and 12 from Bengaluru, contributing around 4,000 additional seats.
“These new flights are part of ongoing efforts to enhance regional connectivity and accommodate the influx of travelers to Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh period. The addition of these flights is expected to ease the pressure on airfares and improve overall accessibility for devotees and tourists,” MoCA stated in a release.
Currently, 132 flights operate to Prayagraj from across India, providing approximately 80,000 monthly seats.
In a separate LocalCircles survey, 8 in 10 airline passengers indicated that they had paid excessive airfare for trips undertaken in the last 12 months, while 6 in 10 supported the government capping airfares at twice the regular rates. Many have experienced airlines charging 3-6 times the usual fares during peak periods.
The current situation with Mahakumbh travel is another instance where airfares have skyrocketed, not just for Prayagraj but also for nearby airports like Varanasi. The fare surge is impacting not only tourists and pilgrims but also residents of Prayagraj and surrounding areas who are trying to return home.
Given this scenario, LocalCircles conducted another survey to assess the actual experiences of travelers booking flights to Mahakumbh in the past week. The survey received over 15,000 responses from air passengers across India who either booked or attempted to book travel to Prayagraj or nearby airports.
86% of Indians surveyed who searched for flights to Mahakumbh (Prayagraj or nearby airports) in the past week say they found airfares to be 3-10 times higher than regular fares.
The survey asked respondents who had traveled or planned to travel to Prayagraj in the coming weeks: “If you or a family member has searched for a flight to Prayagraj or nearby airports to visit Mahakumbh in the past week, what kind of airfares were presented to you?” Out of 15,899 respondents:
- 21% reported fares were 8-10 times the regular rates.
- 44% reported fares were 6-8 times the regular rates.
- 21% reported fares were 3-5 times the regular rates.
- 8% reported fares were up to twice the regular rates.
- 6% did not provide a clear answer.In summary, despite claims by the DGCA and the Civil Aviation Minister that sufficient flights have been arranged—and more are being introduced to accommodate the surge in demand—consumers believe airlines are exploiting the occasion for excessive profiteering.
The result: 86% of Indians surveyed who searched for flights to Mahakumbh in the past week found airfares to be 3-10 times the regular fares.
While it is understandable that airlines seek profitability, the level of profiteering witnessed in this case is unjustifiable. It is unfortunate that the DGCA, MoCA, and consumer protection bodies such as the CCPA have yet to intervene.
Survey Demographics
The survey received over 15,000 responses from consumers across 301 districts in India.
63% of respondents were men, while 37% were women.
45% of respondents were from tier 1 cities, 25% from tier 2 cities, and 30% from tier 3, 4, 5, and rural districts.
The survey was conducted via the LocalCircles platform, with all participants being verified citizens registered on LocalCircles.
