Airfare on Delhi-Dharamshala Route Drops Below Taxi Cost Amid Off-Season Slump
Dharamshala – With tourism hitting a low due to the off-season and recent natural calamities like floods, cloudbursts, and landslides, the number of air travelers on the Delhi-Dharamshala route has sharply declined. Consequently, flight frequency to Gaggal Airport has reduced to just 3–4 flights a day.
Surprisingly, airfares have dropped significantly — currently starting at just ₹3,733 and going up to ₹6,000. On the other hand, during the peak tourist season, fares typically ranged between ₹7,000 and ₹8,000. Meanwhile, a four-seater taxi ride from Delhi to Dharamshala costs around ₹13,000, while a seven-seater can go up to ₹17,000.
The flight duration is about 1.5 hours, providing a quicker and more comfortable alternative to a 6–7 hour road journey that often includes potholes, traffic jams, and route closures due to bad weather.
Taxi operator Kundan Singh noted that taxis have the advantage of dropping passengers directly at their destination, whereas flights only take them to the airport, requiring further travel arrangements.
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