• Source:JND

Airfares on certain nonstop European carriers operating between London and Mumbai have surged drastically, with economy tickets touching nearly Rs 2.9 lakh and business class seats climbing to a staggering Rs 9 lakh. The spike follows escalating tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran, which have unsettled the Gulf region.

On normal days, passengers pay between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 for a one-way economy ticket on this route, while business class seats usually cost anywhere from Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. Even Indian airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have increased their fares on select services.

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What Behind The Hike In Ticket Prices

Airlines attribute the sudden hike in rates to a mix of operational and market pressures. With carriers forced to reroute aircraft to avoid restricted Gulf airspace, flight durations have increased. Additionally, widespread cancellations, almost over 700 flights a day, have created a severe imbalance between available seats and passenger demand.

While Etihad initiated special evacuation services and Emirates announced similar measures for stranded travellers in the UAE, both airlines suspended their regular flights on Monday and Tuesday.

Travellers Advised To Cancel Trips

Airport authorities in Kolkata confirmed that Gulf-based airlines called off 20 flights within a span of two days. In response, travel agents have begun advising customers with bookings to Gulf destinations, as well as onward journeys to Europe and the United States, to modify or change their plans.

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Fares on other routes have also climbed steeply. On Tuesday, tickets from Hyderabad to London were selling for Rs 65,000 to Rs 90,000, twice the usual rates. Agents noted that prices to Germany have jumped by 200 to 300 per cent. Long-haul routes have not been spared either, with Hyderabad-New York flights via Ethiopia priced at approximately Rs 1.5 lakh on Tuesday.

The situation has severely affected connectivity between Hyderabad and the UAE, a route that sees around 5,000 passengers everyday. At Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, more than 50 flights were cancelled on Monday alone.


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