Hyderabad: Cashing in on the soaring summer temperatures, airlines have hiked fares by 200% to 300% from Hyderabad to Europe during the peak holiday season. The surge impacts even the cheapest routes, with both long-haul and stopover flights seeing steep price increases.
European destinations like Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, and Germany are among the top picks this summer, thanks to their pleasant temperatures between 10° Celsius and 18° Celsius, ideal for outdoor adventures and scenic travel.
The rush has pushed fares to unprecedented highs. In early May, a ticket from Hyderabad to Rome with three layovers jumped to Rs 60,000 from the usual Rs 24,000. Flights with a single stop in cities like New Delhi, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, or London now cost between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh, compared to the earlier Rs 60,000.
Hyderabad-Zurich (Switzerland) fares have climbed even higher, ranging from Rs 86,000 to Rs 1.3 lakh for one-stop journeys. Even longer routes with two or three layovers, stretching to 36 hours, are priced between Rs 60,000 and Rs 75,000 — almost three times the normal rates.
Travel agents report a surge in European holiday bookings since March. Adding to the trend is the uncertainty around Kashmir tourism, which has pushed many to look westward. However, a tourist visa for countries like Switzerland and Italy typically takes around 15 days to process, they said.
“European holiday packages are in high demand, costing between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 lakh per person for 10 to 15 days, depending on accommodation and luxury preferences,” said Moez Meghani, owner of Max Travels. “Bookings are being locked in two to three months in advance, with many planning well into June.”
Domestic travellers shift to Himachal
Meanwhile, tensions in Kashmir have prompted domestic tourists to reroute their plans to Himachal Pradesh. Popular destinations include Kullu, Manali, Shimla, Solan, Sirmaur, and Mandi.
“Five friends and I had initially planned a Kashmir trip this month. But with the unrest, we chose Himachal instead,” said N Kamal, an IT professional from Begumpet. “Airfares to Shimla and Kullu were high — around Rs 17,000 to Rs 23,000 one way — so we decided to travel by train to Delhi and booked a Himachal tour package for Rs 15,000 per person for three nights.”
Following the recent terror attack on tourists in Kashmir, travel agents say many have shifted to hill destinations like Himachal and Darjeeling. “Given the sky-high airfares in May, tourists are now opting for June packages. For international trips, Singapore and Malaysia are also seeing demand, with packages starting at Rs 39,000,” said Mohammed Abdul Moiz, treasurer of the tour operators association of Telangana.
