Cricket fans across the country are making plans to travel to Ahmedabad as India prepare to take on New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on March 8. With the summit clash expected to draw a massive crowd to the Narendra Modi Stadium, airlines and railways have started adding extra travel options to handle the sudden surge in demand.
Air India Express and Akasa Air on Friday announced special flights to Ahmedabad to help fans reach the city for the highly anticipated final. The move comes as ticket demand for both flights and trains rises sharply whenever India feature in a major global final.
Such occasions often see airfares shoot up while train tickets disappear within minutes. Despite the challenges, thousands of supporters still travel long distances for marquee matches, especially when the Indian team is involved and chasing silverware. The Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket venue, is expected to be packed for the final.
To manage the rush, airlines have started adding more seats while also keeping an eye on booking trends. Both carriers indicated that they may consider increasing capacity further if demand continues to grow closer to match day.
Air India Express has also announced additional flights to Ahmedabad from several major cities to accommodate fans travelling to the match.
“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 for travel to the city as fans across the country plan to attend the highly anticipated match,” Air India Express said in a release.
Akasa Air said it will operate special direct flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on March 8 and March 9, adding to its existing services between the two cities. The airline is also planning to bring a cricket-themed touch to the journey for passengers travelling to the final.
Through its SkyScore feature, Akasa Air passengers will be able to follow live match updates even while they are in the air. The airline also said it plans to create a festive environment on board for fans heading to the big game.
FANS GEAR UP FOR IND vs NZ T20 WORLD CUP FINAL
Apart from air travel, railways have also stepped in to handle the demand. Western Railway has announced two special trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on special fares, including one scheduled to run on match day, March 8, to help supporters reach the city in time for the final.
The excitement around the match is understandable. India head into the final with a chance to achieve something no team has managed before in T20 World Cups. After edging past England in a thrilling semi-final, where Sanju Samson’s explosive innings helped India post 254, the hosts are now one win away from successfully defending the title on home soil.
New Zealand, however, arrive with plenty of momentum of their own. The Black Caps produced a clinical performance in the semi-final against South Africa in Kolkata, keeping the Proteas to 168 before openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen blew the chase apart. The pair powered New Zealand to a nine-wicket win in just 12.5 overs, setting up another shot at their first T20 World Cup trophy.
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