In a surprising turn of events, the cost of air travel to Kashmir, once deemed unaffordable for many, has witnessed a dramatic fall over the last few weeks. Currently, a one-way air ticket from Delhi to Srinagar is being sold for as low as ₹3,800 to ₹4,500, while a flight from Mumbai to Srinagar, which earlier touched a staggering ₹28,000, is now available for under ₹5,000.
This sharp decline in airfares follows the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of security personnel and led to a perceptible drop in the number of tourists visiting the Valley.
Before the attack, airline fares to Kashmir were at their seasonal peak. Travel from Delhi to Srinagar routinely costs over ₹15,000—sometimes even more, depending on the time of booking and availability. The sudden fall in prices has now drawn attention to the erratic nature of airfare fluctuations linked to Kashmir’s tourist economy.
“This is the lowest I’ve seen in years during the spring season, which is usually the peak travel time,” said Rameez Ahmad, a Srinagar-based travel operator. “The demand has taken a serious hit after the Pahalgam incident. Hotels are reporting cancellations, and packages are being deferred or dropped altogether.”
Tourism stakeholders across Kashmir have raised concerns about the vulnerability of the Valley’s tourism sector to both security-related incidents and pricing irregularities.
Tariq Ahmad, a hotelier, expressed frustration over the lack of stability in airfares. “When tourists were pouring in, airlines charged ₹15,000 or more for a single ticket. Now, when there are hardly any tourists, fares have fallen to a third. Why can’t airfares be kept reasonable when demand is high too?”
Ahmad added that such fluctuations not only harm the image of Kashmir as a tourist-friendly destination but also shake the confidence of domestic travellers. “People hesitate to plan trips here because they can’t predict the costs. There’s no pricing regulation.”
The situation has renewed demands for government intervention in regulating airfare, especially during the tourist season or when the Jammu-Srinagar highway—the Valley’s primary land route—is blocked due to landslides or snowfall.
“Kashmir’s air connectivity is crucial—not just for tourists, but for patients, students, traders, and government officials. During winters or medical emergencies, many families are forced to spend exorbitant amounts just to travel to Delhi or Jammu. It’s unjust.
Several civil society members and travel associations have previously appealed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to introduce a **price cap or fare slab** for air travel to Kashmir. However, the ministry has repeatedly stated that India follows a deregulated aviation market where airlines set fares based on demand and supply dynamics.
Despite that, the recent developments have prompted fresh calls for region-specific policies.
According to travel agencies and hoteliers, the fallout of the Pahalgam attack has been immediate and damaging. Several group tours have been cancelled, and advance bookings for the upcoming summer season are significantly lower compared to previous years.
For now, the Valley finds itself at the crossroads—where affordable airfare comes as a bittersweet relief. The empty hotel rooms and quiet streets of tourist spots like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Sonamarg are a reminder that security incidents and pricing policies can make or break an entire season.