Dharamshala: Airfares on flights connecting Dharamshala with Delhi and Chandigarh have jumped sharply ahead of the Diwali festival and winter tourist season, raising concern among travel agents and tourism operators in the region.
Direct flights on the Delhi-Dharamshala sector are now priced between Rs 12,000 and Rs 18,000, while Chandigarh-Dharamshala tickets are being quoted above typical levels. Two weeks ago, fares on these routes ranged from Rs 4,500-Rs 7,000 for Delhi and Rs 3,000-Rs 5,000 for Chandigarh.
Connecting flights from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur are also seeing higher prices, with one-stop fares to Dharamshala via Delhi ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per passenger. Travel agents described the surge as “open exploitation” and criticised the Union Government for inaction.
Industry representatives warned that unchecked price increases could affect Himachal Pradesh’s tourism economy, which depends heavily on seasonal visitors. They have called on local members of Parliament to press the Centre for airfare subsidies on the Delhi-Dharamshala corridor, similar to those available for Kashmir and North-Eastern states. They also requested that all Himachal airports be included in the UDAN scheme, aimed at maintaining affordable regional connectivity.
Travel agencies report that the spike is already diverting tourist flows to other destinations. Clients from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Lucknow are increasingly opting for Kashmir or the North-East, where ticket prices remain comparatively lower.
The limited 1,372-meter runway at Gaggal airport restricts operations to ATR-72 aircraft, preventing larger planes from serving the region. Aviation analysts said short-runway constraints and heightened seasonal demand are key factors behind the rise in fares.
Currently, Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet operate six daily flights connecting Dharamshala with Delhi and Chandigarh. Travel agents emphasised that if airfares remain at current levels, Himachal Pradesh risks losing a portion of its peak-season tourism revenue.
