The most striking increases were seen in Guwahati, with a staggering 386% rise in bookings, followed closely by Jaipur at 306%, and Patna at 271%
According to World on Holiday by RateGain, flight bookings this Diwali season have surged by an impressive 85% compared to last year, doubling the number of travelers and even surpassing pre-COVID levels. This significant uptick has not only doubled the number of travelers but has also surpassed pre-COVID levels, signaling a robust recovery in the domestic aviation sector.
With an advance booking window averaging 27 days, travelers are planning their trips well in advance, ensuring they secure seats at some of the most sought-after destinations during the festive period. The top cities that have emerged as favorites among Diwali travelers include the metros and major cities New Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Port Blair, Kochi, and Patna.
A key driver of this travel boom is the desire to reconnect with family during Diwali, particularly people visiting their hometowns. This trend highlights a shift in travel behavior, where reverse travel—where city dwellers head back to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities—has become more prominent. The most striking increases were seen in Guwahati, with a staggering 386% rise in bookings, followed closely by Jaipur at 306%, and Patna at 271%. Other significant spikes in travel to cities like Chennai, Amritsar, and Lucknow further highlight this trend.
