Cricket fans across the country are gearing up to travel to Ahmedabad as India prepare to face New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on March 8.
With the summit clash set to take place at the massive Narendra Modi Stadium, airlines and railways are adding extra services to handle the surge in travel demand. Carriers such as Air India Express and Akasa Air have announced special flights to Ahmedabad to help supporters reach the city in time for the big match. Travel demand tends to spike whenever India reach the final of a major global tournament, often pushing airfares higher while train tickets sell out quickly.
Despite the higher fares and limited availability, thousands of fans are expected to make the journey to watch the final live. The Narendra Modi Stadium — the world’s largest cricket venue — is expected to host a packed crowd for the title clash.
To manage the rush, airlines are increasing seat capacity and closely monitoring booking trends. Both Air India Express and Akasa Air indicated that more flights could be added if demand continues to rise closer to match day.
Air India Express has already announced additional services to Ahmedabad from key cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
“To facilitate cricket fans travelling to witness the final, the airline will operate additional flights to Ahmedabad from Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad. These flights have been scheduled in response to the sharp increase in demand as fans across the country plan to attend the match,” Air India Express said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Akasa Air will operate special direct flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on March 8 and March 9, supplementing its regular services on the route. The airline is also planning to create a cricket-themed travel experience for passengers heading to the final.
Through its SkyScore feature, Akasa Air passengers will be able to track live match updates even while they are in the air. The airline said it also plans to create a festive onboard atmosphere for fans travelling to the big game.
Fans gear up for IND vs NZ final
Apart from air travel, Indian Railways has also stepped in to accommodate the surge in passengers. Western Railway has announced two special trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, including one scheduled to run on match day to help fans reach the city in time.
The excitement around the final is understandable. India head into the match with a chance to achieve a rare milestone in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. After defeating the England national cricket team in a thrilling semi-final — where Sanju Samson played a blistering knock to help India post a huge total of 254 — the hosts are now just one victory away from defending their title on home soil.
However, the New Zealand national cricket team will arrive with strong momentum of their own. The Black Caps delivered a dominant performance against the South Africa national cricket team in the semi-final at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After restricting South Africa to 168, openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen powered the chase with a rapid partnership, sealing a nine-wicket win in just 12.5 overs.
With both teams in strong form and thousands of fans travelling to Ahmedabad, the final promises to deliver a thrilling contest as India chase another world title. 🏏✈️
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