# 77% of Indians Are Ready to Fly This Summer — And They’re Done Chasing Crowd

URL: https://technosports.co.in/77-of-indians-are-ready-to-fly-this/  
Published: 2026-05-04  
Updated: 2026-05-04  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

India’s summer travel mood in 2026 can be summed up in one word: adaptive. According to Skyscanner’s Smarter Summer report — a survey of 2,000 Indians conducted by OnePoll in March 2026 — a massive 77% of Indians are confident about travelling in the next three months, and nearly 9 in 10 have either planned or already booked their Summer 2026 holiday. The desire to travel is undeniable. What’s changing is *how* Indians are going about it.

## **Planning Is Getting Smarter — and More Complex**

Gone are the days of booking a ticket and figuring out the rest later. Today’s Indian traveller is watching prices, reading advisories, and keeping options open. Four key factors are shaping decisions this summer:

| Planning Factor | % of Travellers Affected |
| --- | --- |
| Fluctuating airfare prices | 48% |
| Overall trip value and cost | 45% |
| Travel advisories | 34% |
| Operational disruptions (airport closures etc.) | 32% |

A telling sign of this growing price awareness: 58% of travellers believe flying in July is cheaper than August — and they’re right to factor this in. Tools like [Skyscanner’s ‘Whole Month’ search](https://technosports.co.in/skyscanner-whole-month-search) are helping travellers compare fares across entire months rather than fixed dates, making smarter booking genuinely accessible.

![Indians](https://images.technosports.co.in/2026/05/Skyscanner-Image-2-1024x682.jpeg)

As Neel Ghose, Travel and Destinations Expert at Skyscanner India, put it: *“Travellers are not stepping back; they are adapting within constraints. Instead of cancelling, they are staying flexible on where they go.”*

## **The Offbeat Revolution: Hidden Gems Are the New Hotspots**

Perhaps the most striking shift in the report is where Indians *want* to go. The era of everyone rushing to the same overcrowded hill stations and beaches is fading fast. A full 81% of travellers say they are open to lesser-known destinations, 60% are actively seeking quieter places, and 9 in 10 want their holiday spending to benefit local communities and small businesses.

This isn’t just a preference — it’s a movement. Zostel, a hostel network available on Skyscanner, saw offbeat destinations in its network grow 88% year-on-year, with 60% of those guests being first-time travellers from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. As Zostel CEO Aviral Gupta said: *“Smaller-town India is no longer just a backdrop for travel stories; it’s where the story begins.”*

## **Top Destinations for Summer 2026**

Here’s where Indian travellers are heading — and where they can get the best value:

**Most Popular Destinations:**

| Rank | City | Country |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Bangkok | Thailand |
| 2 | Denpasar (Bali) | Indonesia |
| 3 | Singapore | Singapore |
| 4 | Kuala Lumpur | Malaysia |
| 5 | Tokyo | Japan |
| 6 | Phuket | Thailand |
| 7 | Ho Chi Minh City | Vietnam |
| 8 | Colombo | Sri Lanka |
| 9 | Seoul | South Korea |
| 10 | Kathmandu | Nepal |

## **Cheapest Destinations (Return Economy, July–August 2026):**

| City | Country | Avg. Fare (INR) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kozhikode | India | ₹4,985 |
| Diu | India | ₹6,809 |
| Puducherry | India | ₹11,435 |
| George Town | Malaysia | ₹12,029 |
| Jammu | India | ₹13,127 |
| Shillong | India | ₹13,752 |
| Krabi | Thailand | ₹18,356 |
| Phnom Penh | Cambodia | ₹24,599 |
| Victoria | Seychelles | ₹46,836 |

For a deeper dive into finding the best deals, check out our [guide to booking cheap flights on Skyscanner](https://technosports.co.in/cheap-flights-skyscanner-guide).

## **Flexibility and Group Travel: The New Realities**

While 58% of travellers have fixed dates due to work or school, 30% are choosing to switch destinations rather than cancel holidays altogether — a “pivot, not cancel” mindset that defines this summer. [Skyscanner’s Price Alerts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyscanner) feature is helping travellers monitor fare changes and strike when prices are right.

Group travel, meanwhile, remains a genuine headache. Indians spend over 15 hours on average coordinating a group trip, and nearly half say it’s more stressful than moving house or planning a wedding. The pressure to align budgets, schedules, and preferences is real — and travellers are increasingly turning to comparison tools to cut through the friction.

## **FAQs**

### **Q: What are the cheapest summer 2026 destinations for Indians?** 

Kozhikode leads at just ₹4,985 average return fare, with Diu and Puducherry also offering excellent domestic value this season.

### **Q: Is July cheaper than August for flights from India in 2026?**

 Yes — 58% of travellers believe so, and Skyscanner data supports booking in July for better fares before the August peak kicks in.