times news networkPanaji: For tourists looking to holiday in Goa over the upcoming long weekend, airfares have shot up to an all-time high. A single flight ticket to return to Chennai from Goa on Sunday after the long weekend will cost flyers Rs 18,400, more than four times the regular airfare of around Rs 4,500. This fare is higher for the route than that seen even during the peak Dec-end and Jan beginning season.It will cost double the usual fare to also fly into Goa from Chennai on Thursday, ahead of the long Gandhi Jayanti weekend, at Rs 10,600 a ticket.Even for a short flight from Goa to Bengaluru, on which tickets are priced around Rs 3,700, the airfare is priced at Rs 13,800 on Sunday. A flight ticket into Goa from Bengaluru on Friday costs Rs 9,400 as of now.Surging jet fuel costs due to geopolitical conflicts have been causing unusually high airfare costs, driven further up due to the long weekend demand. Spikes in petroleum prices are driving up aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs for airlines. Airlines have cut less-profitable routes and reduced overall daily frequencies to manage expenses. Fewer seats mean higher prices when demand remains high.Another route on which airfares to Goa have nearly doubled is from Ahmedabad to Goa, with the ticket costing Rs 10,000 on Friday and Rs 10,400 to fly out on Sunday. The normal price on this route is around Rs 5,700.Similarly, in the case of Hyderabad, the usual airfare of Rs 3,700 has gone up to Rs 7,500 for Goa on Friday to almost Rs 9,000 to return from Goa on Sn.Carriers are known to add surcharges and raise base fares to offset these volatile energy inputs.Conflicts in the West Asia have disrupted oil supplies, causing jet fuel prices to spike. Jet fuel makes up 35% to 40% of an airline’s total operating costs. While fuel prices have eased a bit, airfares are known to fall much more slowly than they rise.GFXFares to Goa on Oct 1 – Regular fare – Return from Goa on Oct 4From Chennai – Rs 10,600 – Rs 4,500 – Rs 18,400From Bengaluru – Rs 9,400 – Rs 3,700 – Rs 13,800From Ahmedabad – Rs 10,000 – Rs 5,700 – Rs 10,400From Hyderabad – Rs 7,500 – Rs 3,700 – Rs 8,900From Pune – Rs 9,000 – Rs 3,000 – Rs 7,500From Kolkata – Rs 9,900 – Rs 7,800 – Rs 11,200From New Delhi – Rs 9,400 – Rs 7,200 – Rs 11,300From Mumbai – Rs 7,500 – Rs 4,000 – Rs 6,500
