Bhubaneswar–Ayodhya flight costs nearly same as ticket to China, man's post goes viral. Internet debates

The post quickly gathered momentum online, triggering discussion on airfare pricing in India.

An X user from Odisha, identified as Manas Muduli, went viral after sharing a comparison of flight fares showing that a domestic ticket from Bhubaneswar to Ayodhya cost almost the same as an international ticket to China on the same airline and travel date.

In his post, Muduli wrote: “The Bhubaneswar to Ayodhya flight costs almost the same as flying from Bhubaneswar to China on the same airline, IndiGo, for the same date! How does a domestic sector end up costing as much as an international one?”

Along with his post, he attached a screenshot of the fare details, revealing that a Bhubaneswar–Ayodhya flight was priced at Rs 14,237, while a Bhubaneswar–Guangzhou (China) flight cost Rs 14,977 — a difference of only Rs 700.

Bhubaneswar to Ayodhya flight costs almost the same as flying from Bhubaneswar to China on same airline Indigo, for the same date!

How does a domestic sector end up costing as much as an international one!! pic.twitter.com/vQY8COD0UJ — Manas Muduli (@manas_muduli) November 11, 2025

The post quickly gathered momentum online, triggering discussion on airfare pricing in India. While many users expressed disbelief over the high domestic fares, others attempted to explain the price difference by citing factors such as seasonal demand, route competition, and limited connectivity on certain sectors.

One user commented, “Demand and supply decides price. Guangzhou has no or less takers than Ayodhya!” Another wrote, “They don’t have damn competition, that’s why!!” A third simply summed it up as, “One airline. Demand supply.”

Muduli responded to several comments, agreeing that demand could influence fares but stressing that passengers deserved a transparent explanation for why some domestic flights were priced on par with international ones. He added that such pricing should be justified more clearly, especially when short-haul routes cost nearly as much as long-haul ones.

Other users pointed out that the Guangzhou fare appeared lower because it involved a lengthy journey of over ten hours, including a layover, making it less attractive to most travellers. They noted that direct international flights to China or elsewhere would generally cost significantly more.