This summer promises excitement for travellers looking to escape the sweltering heat, as airfares to the US have dropped for the first time in years. The most noticeable dip is on the Mumbai–US route, with one-way tickets to New York available for as low as ₹37,000 (as of Saturday) for mid-May departures. Besides Saturday, the fare drop is also evident for travel throughout May 2025. The lowest return fares start at ₹76,000, though these often include long layovers at Middle Eastern airports.
Why The Price Drop
Travel platforms reported a 5–8% decline in average fares for the April–June 2025 period when compared to the same quarter last year. According to a Times Of India report, Analysts attribute the change to better seat availability and modified airline routing strategies. The report quoted Indiver Rastogi, President and Group Head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel: “Summer marks the peak holiday season for Indian travellers, with schools closed and families, including multiple-generation families, travelling to popular long-haul destinations like the US. Interestingly, we’re seeing a drop in airfares for travel from Delhi and Mumbai to key US cities during the April–June 2025 period, with average fares dropping by 5–8% compared to the same time last year.”
He added that, based on bookings made in January–February 2025, fares to San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles averaged ₹1.15 lakh, which is down from ₹1.20–1.25 lakh in 2024. Fares to Boston, Orlando, and Michigan were around ₹1.35 lakh, compared to ₹1.40–1.45 lakh last year.
While the cheapest return fare is ₹76,000, it comes with a long layover at a Middle Eastern airport. However, for around ₹85,000, you can opt for a more convenient route via Delhi or London, with layovers of no more than four hours.
Flying from India to the US has always been in high demand, and it’s easy to see why. With millions of Indians living in America and a growing number of students heading there for higher studies, the need for flights never really dips. Until now, ticket prices stayed steep because there weren’t enough direct flight options, and many airlines had to take longer routes due to airspace issues.
Increased Seat Capacity, More Connecting Flights, Lower Demand During Certain Months, Competitive Pricing by Airlines are considered to be the reasons for the ticket price hike.
