Flying to Dubai cheaper than flying to Kannaur? This is what the viral post says

Air travel has undoubtedly transformed our lives, making long-distance journeys faster and more accessible than ever. However, this convenience often comes at a cost—sometimes an eye-watering one. A recent example is a Delhi-to-Kannur flight priced at ₹22,000, sparking a heated debate online. Such high prices are not uncommon and often make us wonder how ticket prices in India are regulated.
Dr. Shama Mohamed, spokesperson and member of the Congress party, recently shared a screenshot of her recent inquiry about flights from Delhi to Kannaur. The screenshot clearly showed that tickets from Delhi to Kannur on December 22 were priced at around rupees 22,000. Dr Mohammed slammed the airlines by tagging them and saying that it would be cheaper for Indians to fly to Dubai than to take domestic flights.

The post has opened floodgates of reactions and has been viewed by around 830.1k people. One user blamed such high prices on privatization. The user said, “That’s the issue with Privatization. When air india was under govt rates were not this high and luggage limit was also higher. But now. India is becoming slowly non liveable for middle class. My flight to Zurich from delhi costed me 30K one way and you can get round trip to Dubai in 24k.”

Another user also argued the same point, “The prices have soared to unbearable heights. Despite the Kannur airport being just 10-12 km from my home, I’ve been unable to afford it for the past three years. What was once a simple, affordable option has now become out of reach.! Monopoly....”
Some others had a different take on this, one user commented, “It is all to do with demand and supply. Ticket and hotel prices always become obnoxiously high during holidays. What's new here?” Many pointed out that she was attempting to fly to a less-connected destination during the peak holiday travel season, just before Christmas, which naturally drove up ticket prices. Limited flight options, high demand, and the festive rush likely contributed to the steep costs she encountered.

Flight prices in India are a result of a dynamic pricing model influenced by various factors. And of the key factors is the ‘demand and supply’, as more individuals start booking flights during a certain period, the prices are automatically increased. higher prices are noticed during peak seasons, festivals, or weekends, while off-peak times often see discounts. Booking time plays a crucial role, the earlier one books the ticket will be cheaper, in comparison to booking it last minute. However, competition on a route can lower fares, but monopoly routes tend to have higher prices.