Srinagar Flights see steep fare drop as tourist cancellations rise

Key Takeaways

• Flight prices from Srinagar soared to ₹28,800 after the April 22, 2025 attack; inbound fares dropped sharply.
• Tourist cancellations reached 80-90%, causing massive losses to Kashmir’s tourism sector and local jobs.
• The DGCA ordered extra flights and urged airlines to waive fees for stranded travelers during the security crisis.

The tragic attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22, 2025, has shaken the entire region and caused deep changes in tourism and travel. At least 26 people, most of whom were visiting as tourists, lost their lives in this attack. The incident has set off a serious security crisis and deeply affected the way people look at traveling to and from Kashmir. This event quickly changed how people buy tickets, what airlines charge for flights, and how the local tourism industry is coping. Let’s take a closer, detailed look at how these changes are unfolding, what they mean for travelers, and what the future might hold during this security crisis.

What Happened and Why Is It Important?

Pahalgam, a well-known tourist spot in Kashmir, turned into a site of tragedy on April 22, 2025. News of a terrorist attack raced through India 🇮🇳, making people everywhere anxious about traveling to the popular region. Most of the victims were travelers, which made other potential tourists worried and scared. Because of this, those already in Kashmir rushed to get out, while people planning future trips canceled their reservations in large numbers. Tourist cancellations rose quickly as safety became everyone’s biggest concern.

This sudden change created two opposite effects: the demand for Srinagar flights going out of the city went way up, but flights coming into Srinagar saw a sharp drop in demand. These changes directly affected airfare prices, travel plans, and the overall stability of businesses in Kashmir that depend on tourism dollars.

Srinagar Flight Price Patterns: Why They Changed So Quickly

When panic spread among tourists, many wanted to leave Kashmir as soon as possible. This caused airfares from Srinagar to places like Delhi and Mumbai to go up sharply. Airline companies use dynamic pricing, which simply means prices go up when more people want to fly. On April 24, just two days after the attack, outbound tickets from Srinagar cost anywhere between ₹11,000 and ₹23,000. Some tickets even reached nearly ₹28,800 for a one-way trip. These prices were much higher than usual, showing how quickly the market reacted to the security crisis and the sudden rush.

On the other hand, the demand for inbound flights—those coming into Srinagar—collapsed. Most people now viewed Kashmir as unsafe. With hardly anyone booking flights, airlines quickly slashed ticket prices to attract travelers. For example, the fare from Mumbai to Srinagar dropped by up to 63%, from ₹13,162 down to ₹4,775. Similarly, tickets from Chennai fell by about 51% (from nearly ₹20,000 down to less than ₹10,000), and similar sharp drops were seen on other routes, including Ahmedabad (down by roughly 53%), Bengaluru (down by 36%), Kolkata (down by 22%), and Delhi (down by 20%). Despite prices going as low as ₹5,000 in some cases, very few people were willing to take the risk and fly into the region.

The changes in Srinagar flights clearly show how important security and safety are for travelers. Even when prices are low, fear keeps many people away. The travel industry relies not only on cost but also on a sense of well-being and safety.

Table: Price Drops on Major Inbound Srinagar Routes

Here are real examples of how airfares changed right after the attack:

This data, pulled from India Today’s analysis using Google Flight search results, highlights a sharp and sudden fall in ticket prices. However, low prices did not bring back tourists, as the main worry was now the ongoing security crisis.

The Bigger Impact: How the Tourism Industry Is Suffering

The wave of tourist cancellations in Kashmir did not just affect flights. The event led to what many local travel agents and business owners are calling an “existential crisis.” Organized group tours, such as those set for the Amarnath Yatra or yearly summer trips, saw cancellation rates as high as 80-90%. With so many people canceling, hotels became nearly empty, booking companies and travel agents lost business, and local taxi drivers and tour guides suddenly had no work. These jobs depend almost fully on tourism during the busy season, and now the future looks uncertain.

Before this crisis, Kashmir saw tourism valued at about ₹18,000 to ₹21,000 crore every year (roughly $2 to $2.5 billion USD). When people canceled their plans all at once, businesses worried about losing thousands of crores in income—money that supports not just business owners but also workers and their families throughout the region. The economic shock could be felt for many months, and possibly years, if the security crisis does not end soon and travelers do not feel safe coming back.

What Did the Government and Airlines Do?

The government and airlines knew action was needed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) quickly instructed airlines to put on more Srinagar flights going out, to help the many stranded tourists return to their home cities faster. At the same time, they told airlines to avoid pushing up prices even more, and urged them to be flexible with cancellation and rescheduling fees during these “extraordinary circumstances” so people would be able to change plans without heavy penalties.

Some airlines answered these calls. They announced extra evacuation flights and agreed to waive change fees or let people cancel flights without losing money. Still, ticket prices for outgoing flights did not drop right away because the demand was so much higher than the number of seats available. The situation highlights how infrastructure and planning are stretched during a security crisis.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that while these steps helped ease some immediate problems for stranded tourists, the larger issue remains how to restore traveler confidence for the future. The way airlines and local businesses work together with government officials will play a big role in deciding how fast Kashmir’s tourism can recover from such a severe shock.

If you want to learn about how the DGCA handles emergency measures for air travel, you can visit the official DGCA government page.

Historical Background: Kashmir’s Dependence on Tourism

Kashmir’s beautiful scenery, cool weather, and rich culture have always drawn people from all over India 🇮🇳 and beyond. Tourism is the backbone of the region’s economy, especially during spring, summer, and the pilgrimage season. Each year, lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of people come for religious festivals, holidays, and to escape the summer heat in other parts of India 🇮🇳.

However, this is not the first time Kashmir has faced a setback because of violence. In the past, events like natural disasters and political unrest have caused short-term losses, but the region always aimed to rebuild its image as a peaceful, welcoming place for travelers. This time, the scale of the tragedy and the speed of the security crisis seem greater, especially with modern social media quickly spreading news and panic worldwide.

Why Flight Prices Move So Sharply During a Crisis

Travel is sensitive to sudden changes. Airlines use computer systems that raise prices when demand rises—called “dynamic pricing.” But there are only so many planes and seats available at any moment. When thousands of tourists panic and all try to leave at the same time, prices climb quickly. Outbound flights selling for up to ₹28,800 for a single seat shows just how much pressure the system was under.

Airlines are also businesses. In a crisis, they must balance safety, customer needs, and their own costs. Adding extra flights costs money and takes time. Airlines can only do so much with the resources they have. This is why even with government orders and public requests, high fares for outgoing Srinagar flights remained for several days.

On the other end, when demand dries up fully, prices drop fast. Airlines cut prices to filled otherwise empty seats, but if fear is strong, even cheap fares do not bring travelers back. This is exactly what happened with Srinagar flights coming in after the attack—prices collapsed, but the seats mostly stayed empty.

What Do These Changes Mean for Travelers?

People planning to visit Kashmir have a new set of worries. Many want to know if it is safe to return, and if low fares might mean that risks are being ignored. Families and groups on vacation, especially those planning pilgrimages or summer holidays, are either putting off their plans or shifting to other destinations. VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that trust in both transport systems and local safety measures takes time to rebuild after a crisis like this one.

Some helpful tips for travelers during such situations include:
– Always check official government travel advisories before booking.
– Be mindful of your safety—no trip is worth risking personal security.
– Keep an eye on airline fee waivers or special flights in emergencies.
– Consider booking flexible tickets in uncertain times.

The ongoing security crisis has made many rethink how soon they might travel, not just to Kashmir but to any destination facing similar situations. Tourist cancellations, when triggered by fear for safety, can have a domino effect—affecting everyone from airlines to taxi drivers.

Outlook: Can the Kashmir Tourism Sector Recover?

Kashmir’s tourism industry is known for its strength and ability to recover from setbacks, but the current security crisis is different in how rapidly it changed the entire travel landscape. The region’s economy depends heavily on tourism during certain months, and losing the season can cause losses that may never be recovered. Businesses are hoping for quick peace and strong actions from the government to restore trust.

In the near term, many in the region fear that the usual “bumper season” may not happen at all this year. Hotels may go unfilled, Srinagar flights could remain below capacity, and local workers may struggle without the usual income. Data from past crises shows it takes months, if not years, for tourism traffic to return to normal after large-scale terrorism attacks or big security scares.

For Kashmir to bounce back, clear communication about security improvements, visible steps to boost traveler confidence, and perhaps even government-led campaigns to promote the region may become necessary. Businesses will need support, possibly in the form of loans, subsidies, or tax breaks, to help weather the downturn.

Final Thoughts

The incident in Pahalgam has brought to light how quickly things can change in a place that depends on tourism. One tragic event can lead to a rush of Srinagar flights out, a huge collapse in prices for inbound flights, and a wave of tourist cancellations that threaten businesses and jobs for thousands. The security crisis is a reminder that safety and the feeling of being protected come before all else in travel decisions.

Authorities and airlines have tried to adapt fast, but the path to recovery will take time and trust-building. If peace and security return strongly to Kashmir, travelers may slowly return, helping to rebuild the region’s vital tourism sector bit by bit.

Above all, both travelers and businesses should stay aware, flexible, and hopeful—even as they face a tough season shaped by events far outside their control.

Learn Today

Dynamic Pricing → A flexible pricing strategy where airlines automatically raise or lower fares based on current demand and seat availability.
DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) → India’s government agency responsible for regulating civil aviation and airline operations, especially during emergencies.
Tourist Cancellations → Large-scale withdrawals or postponements of planned tourist visits due to safety or crisis events in a destination.
Amarnath Yatra → A major Hindu pilgrimage event in Kashmir that draws thousands of travelers each year to a significant religious site.
Evacuation Flights → Special flights arranged to quickly transport people out of troubled regions during emergencies or security crises.

This Article in a Nutshell

The tragic Pahalgam attack in April 2025 shook Kashmir’s tourism, spiking outbound flight prices while inbound fares plummeted. Authorities added evacuation flights and urged fee waivers, but tourist cancellations devastated local businesses. Recovery depends on restoring safety—only then may travelers and Kashmir’s economy regain confidence in the region’s future.
— By VisaVerge.com

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