Brief

Dubai‑India Flights See Low Fares as Festive Travel Demand Rises

Fares from Dubai to major Indian cities fall below Dh1,500 amid a surge in expatriate travel for India’s festive season.

By Felo News Desk · Published Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:14:50 GMT

Dubai‑to‑India fares have slipped below Dh1,500 for several major cities as demand for travel to celebrate Dussehra on 20 October and Diwali on 8 November rises, Air India said on Tuesday.

Air India’s regional manager for the Gulf, Middle East and Africa, PP Singh, said bookings were already healthy and that last‑minute activity was visible. Singh added that the airline was hopeful about the winter period and that it had returned to operating at 100 per cent of its entitlement under the India‑UAE bilateral air services agreement since the US‑Iran war broke out in February.

Fares for the period 19 October to 9 November are listed as follows: Dubai‑Mumbai from about Dh1,072; Dubai‑New Delhi around Dh1,439; Dubai‑Kochi about Dh1,042; Dubai‑Bengaluru at Dh945; and Dubai‑Hyderabad at Dh1,017. Tier‑two cities such as Varanasi and Jaipur are pricier, with fares of Dh2,303 and Dh1,426 respectively.

Sharjah‑based travellers also find affordable options on Air Arabia, with fares to Mumbai and Bengaluru at Dh1,072 and Dh945 respectively, and to Chennai at Dh1,205.

Air India will operate 272 weekly flights between India and the UAE during its winter schedule, which runs from 26 October to the end of March. Of those, 54 will be operated by Air India, with the remainder by Air India Express, Singh said.

Travel agents note that the festive period remains crucial for Indian expatriates, with Sapna Aidasani, marketing director at Pluto Travels, saying enquiries for Dussehra and Diwali group travel were picking up and that prices could rise from mid‑October.

Key facts

Fares from Dubai to Bengaluru are below Dh945 for the 19 Oct‑9 Nov period (gulfnews.com)
Air India will run 272 weekly flights between India and the UAE during its winter schedule (gulfnews.com)
PP Singh said bookings were healthy and last‑minute activity was visible (gulfnews.com)
Dubai‑Varanasi fares are about Dh2,303 during the period (gulfnews.com)
Sharjah‑Mumbai fares are about Dh1,072 on Air Arabia (gulfnews.com)

Background

The article builds on Felo News coverage of UAE flight disruptions earlier in September, noting that despite recent delays and cancellations, airlines are adjusting schedules and offering competitive fares for the upcoming festive travel period.

Timeline

2026-09-22 — UAE flights faced up to 13‑hour delays and regional cancellations
2026-09-18 — UAE flights update: Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia revised schedules
2026-09-19 — UAE‑India collaboration initiative launched

Why it matters

The low fares and healthy booking figures indicate strong demand for expatriate travel during India’s major festivals, affecting airline operations and regional tourism economies.

What happens next

Air India will continue monitoring demand and adjusting flight frequencies through the winter schedule, with potential fare adjustments as the festive period approaches.