Diwali approaching, airfares on Delhi-Dharamsala, other routes soar

With Diwali approaching and the winter tourist season around the corner, airline companies have once again hiked airfares on the Delhi-Dharamsala and Chandigarh-Dharamsala routes, pushing them beyond the reach of most locals and tourists.

Travelers are shocked by the abrupt rise in prices. A one-stop connecting flight from Mumbai to Dharamsala via Delhi is now priced between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000 per person. Similar fares are being charged on connecting flights from Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. Even the short Delhi-Dharamsala sector has seen prices surge to Rs 12,000-Rs 18,000, while tickets from Chandigarh to Dharamsala are also being quoted far above normal.

Travel agents’ associations, speaking to The Tribune, strongly criticised airlines for what they termed “open exploitation” of passengers. They also accused the Union Government of turning a blind eye to the issue. Currently, Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet operate around half a dozen flights on the Delhi-Dharamsala and Chandigarh-Dharamsala sectors.

Industry stakeholders warn that unchecked airfare hikes could severely dent Himachal’s tourism economy in the coming days. They have urged members of Parliament from the state to press the Centre for airfare subsidies on the Delhi-Dharamsala circuit, similar to those available for Kashmir and the North-East. They have also demanded that all airports in Himachal Pradesh be brought under the government’s UDAN scheme to ensure affordable connectivity.

The steep rise has already begun diverting tourists. Travel agencies across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Lucknow are preferring Kashmir and the North-East, where airfares remain more affordable. Just two weeks ago, the Delhi-Dharamsala route was priced between Rs 4,500-Rs 7,000, while Chandigarh-Dharamsala tickets cost Rs 3,000-Rs 5,000, well within reach for most travelers.

At present, ATR-72 aircraft operate on these routes due to the short 1,372-meter airstrip at Gaggal airport near Dharamsala, which cannot accommodate larger planes. This limitation, coupled with soaring demand during the festive and tourist season, is being seen as a major factor behind the sharp increase in ticket prices.