As Durga Puja nears, airlines are preparing to meet high demand by scheduling more flights to Kolkata. The festival, celebrated from September 28 to October 2, draws not only locals returning home but also tourists from across India and abroad. Families and travelers are eager to join the celebrations, creating a surge in bookings.
Airlines, which had experienced slower months earlier this year, see the festive season as a major opportunity. Durga Puja is followed by Diwali and the Christmas-New Year holidays, making this the first peak travel period in months. To handle the rush, carriers are adding extra seats and flights from mid-September through early October.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, Kolkata connects to 49 domestic destinations. Seat capacity on the Ahmedabad-Kolkata route will rise by 25% between September 27 and October 4. Similarly, Bengaluru-Kolkata flights will average 3,602 daily seats, up from 3,350 earlier in September.
New routes are also being introduced. A direct Kochi-Kolkata flight will launch on September 26, while connections from Jaipur, Raipur, Shillong, and Varanasi are nearly doubling in capacity for the festive rush.
IndiGo, the market leader, plans to add 23 extra domestic flights and deploy larger aircraft. It’s usual 104 flights on a Sunday will climb to 127 on September 27. SpiceJet, despite financial struggles, will add up to nine flights on select days. Overall, Kolkata Airport expects to handle more than 30 additional flights during the celebrations.
Interestingly, while many are flying into Kolkata, others are flying out. Airlines are also boosting seats from Kolkata to destinations like Goa and Port Blair, as holidaymakers take advantage of the festive break.
Naturally, airfares are climbing fast. Tickets for peak days now start at ₹10,000, with some flights from Delhi and Mumbai crossing ₹25,000. All train tickets to Kolkata have gone, so late planners now only have flights as an option.
Airlines, however, see this as an opportunity to recover from months of low demand. Adjustments in schedules and aircraft use will help balance rising fares, giving passengers more options while benefiting carriers.
Durga Puja remains one of India’s most vibrant celebrations, and demand for travel reflects its cultural importance. For anyone planning to attend, acting quickly is essential. With the rush already underway, securing a seat could soon become even harder.
In the end, the festive season is bringing more flights to Kolkata, ensuring thousands can join the celebrations while airlines capitalize on the surge.
