New Delhi, March 31 -- When Vishwas Reddy, a Bengaluru-based businessman, first checked flights to Kazakhstan in January, the fare was a reasonable Rs.25,000. By late February, as war broke out across West Asia, it had nearly doubled to Rs.45,000. Within days of the conflict escalating, it climbed to Rs.75,000-a threefold jump in under two months.

"I postponed my trip because it was not safe and prices kept increasing," Reddy said. He eventually travelled on 21 March, reasoning that Central Asia was far enough from the epicentre. But the episode has changed how he approaches work and leisure travel. Short vacations clubbed with business trips are now indefinitely on hold.

He is not alone.

Rising airfares are hitting not just business t...