As Pune-Prayagraj flight rates soar, 60% correction expected post Maha Kumbh

Fares have risen due to the unprecedented demand for tickets despite directives from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to airlines to rationalise airfares and Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu’s announcement of a 50 per cent fare reduction effective from February.

According to travel booking platform Ixigo, the cheapest flight from Pune to Prayagraj is priced at around Rs 20,000 for travel on February 25, 2025, while the highest fares reach around Rs 60,000. In contrast, on the last day of the Maha Kumbh, prices drop drastically to Rs 8,000 for some tickets, with the highest still being 60,000. However, the day after the Mela ends, fares start at Rs 8,000 and go up to Rs 20,000, marking a 60 percent drop in the highest ticket prices.

IndiGo was the only airline to launch a direct service from Pune to Prayagraj, starting from February 16 for the last ten days of the Mela. The ticket fares for this flight were relatively affordable, starting at around Rs 20,000. However, these flights are not available on travel booking platforms.

Responding to this, an IndiGo team stated that demand is high since it is the only direct flight from Pune for the Maha Kumbh at an affordable price. As a result, flights are fully booked, and reservations are almost closed, making them unavailable on travel websites.

Another special flight by Akasa Air was introduced from Pune to Prayagraj via Delhi for a month, operating from January 27 to February 26. However, similar to IndiGo, Akasa flights are also not visible on booking platforms.