Eid homecoming turns costly for Kashmiris as airfares to Srinagar skyrocket

Srinagar, June 19: The joyous occasion of Eid has turned into an expensive affair for thousands of Kashmiris working abroad and across India who visited their homes in the Valley.

Exorbitant airfares have created a major shock, with some opting for road travel while many had to shell out hefty amounts for air tickets.

On Sunday, the airfare from Delhi to Srinagar touched a staggering Rs 16,000 per passenger, almost double the amount that air carriers were charging just a few days back.

Junaid Mushtaq, a software engineer working in Bangalore, expressed his dismay, saying, "I had to pay Rs 15,000 for the airfare from Delhi to Srinagar. As I was coming with my family of four, I had to spend a whopping Rs 60,000 on airfares just to celebrate Eid with my parents."

Mushtaq questioned the justification for such exorbitant fares, stating, "I travel across the country and abroad, but for about a 20-minute travel distance, such a huge amount is not charged in any other part of the world."

Another passenger, Mir Zain, pointed out the discrepancy in fares, saying, "Tickets to Srinagar from Jammu for a 25-minute flight are a minimum of Rs 8,500, while the same is the price for a flight from Delhi to Kerala for a 3.5-hour journey. From Delhi to Srinagar, it is a minimum of Rs 12,000. This is an unfair treatment of passengers travelling to Srinagar and will also hit tourism."

The steep rise in airfares has put a significant financial burden on Kashmiris living outside the Valley, who eagerly await the opportunity to reunite with their families during the festive season. Many have expressed frustration and disappointment, questioning the rationale behind such exorbitant pricing.

Air travel to Kashmir has increasingly become a luxury, with skyrocketing airfares surpassing even the costs of international flights. The prohibitively high ticket prices are also deterring tourists apart from burning a hole in the pockets of locals who need to travel from Srinagar to other parts of the country. Despite an increase in the number of daily flights to Srinagar airport, which now exceeds 100, the steep rise in fares is acting as a significant deterrent for potential visitors. For residents of Srinagar who need to travel outside Kashmir or return home for work, education, or medical reasons, the soaring air travel costs have compounded their difficulties, making essential travel an unaffordable burden.

Airlines have cited the surge in demand during the Eid holidays as the primary reason for the fare hike. However, passengers and travel experts argue that the increase is disproportionate and unfair, potentially discouraging travel to the region and adversely affecting tourism.