Kochi: The unexpected surge in airfare prices has resulted in numerous Gulf Malayalis canceling their plans to travel to Kerala for the Vishu and Ramadan holidays.

Over the past few weeks, the average ticket price for flights from UAE to Kerala has skyrocketed from Rs 7000 to Rs 15,000, and the prices are expected to continue rising in the coming days. Furthermore, the return flights to UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have also become more expensive.

The fares for direct flights from UAE will cost Rs 18,940 to Kochi, Rs 22,897 to Kozhikode, Rs 20,650 to Kannur and Rs 21,346 to Thiruvananthapuram on April 20. 

Passengers complain that airline companies continue to increase fares randomly despite repeated requests from Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and the state government to reduce the average cost per ticket. 

Booking a round trip for a family of four between UAE and Kerala now costs around Rs 1 lakh due to the increase in ticket prices. Normally, ticket fares are still available during the first two weeks of Ramadan, but the start of summer vacations has led to a sudden surge in demand for tickets in recent weeks.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting permission to operate charter flight services at a low cost. The letter also mentioned that the state is willing to book additional flights from the second week of April. The Chief Minister also asked the Union Government to intervene against the airline companies increasing ticket fares ahead of the holidays.