Diwali homecoming comes with a shocking price tag: A ticket home costs up to Rs 2.5 lakh as airfares from Gulf and Europe surge over 400% | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: A trip home for Diwali is turning into an expensive affair for Indians working abroad, with airfares from the Gulf countries and Europe soaring by over 400%, making festive reunions with families a costly proposition.With travel demand peaking ahead of the festival, one-way fares from the UAE, particularly Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah to Hyderabad, have witnessed a sharp spike.A ticket from Dubai to Hyderabad, which usually costs between Rs 13,000 and Rs 39,000, is now priced anywhere between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh. Fares from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah have followed a similar trend, ranging from Rs 45,000 to Rs 1.4 lakh. In contrast, the return journey is considerably cheaper, with tickets from Hyderabad to these Gulf destinations available for as little as Rs 12,000 to Rs 24,000 from Monday.The fare shock is even more pronounced for passengers flying in from the UK. A direct one-way flight from London to Hyderabad is costing a staggering Rs 2.5 lakh, against the usual Rs 60,000 to Rs 80,000. Those opting for connecting flights through Arab countries are also facing higher fares, with the cheapest tickets starting at around Rs 70,000.Travel agents attributed the surge to festive demand coupled with pent-up travel plans among the Indian diaspora.“Traditionally, a large number of working-class Indians employed in the UAE make a quick dash home during Diwali to celebrate with their families. Unlike the extended winter or Christmas holidays, these are usually short trips lasting just three to five days,” said Moez Meghani of Max Travel.This year, the rush has been further fuelled by Indians who postponed visits to their hometowns amid recent war-related unrest in the region. Many who skipped their usual trips home during the past few months are now hoping to make it back for Diwali, adding to the demand and pushing fares to unprecedented levels, travel agents said.For passengers, however, the reunion is coming at a steep cost, forcing some to reconsider their plans.“We usually visit Hyderabad during Diwali for three to four days and return to work. But this time, a one-way ticket itself is costing more than what we normally spend on a round trip. Many of us could not travel home in the past few months because of the uncertainty and unrest in the region. We were hoping to make it home for Diwali, but ticket prices have gone through the roof,” said N Karthik, who works in Dubai.