Cricket fans across the country are planning a trip to Ahmedabad as India prepare to face New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on March 8. With the summit clash set to draw a massive crowd to the Narendra Modi Stadium, airlines and railways have started adding more 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 at a time when demand for both tickets and trains surges whenever India features in a major global final.
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On such occasions, air ticket prices often rise, while train tickets disappear within minutes. Despite the appeals, thousands of supporters still travel long distances for marquee matches, especially when an Indian team is involved and chasing silverware. The Narendra Modi Stadium, the biggest cricket venue in the world, is expected to be packed for the final.
To handle the onslaught, airlines have started adding more seats while monitoring booking trends. Both carriers said they may consider further capacity increases 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 traveling to the match.
“To facilitate travel for cricket fans 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 surge 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 report.
Akasa Air said it will operate special direct flights between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on March 8 and 9, adding to its existing services between the two cities. The airline also plans to bring a cricket-themed touch to passengers’ journeys for the finale.
Through the SkyScore feature, Akasa Air passengers will be able to watch live match updates even while 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
In addition to air transport, the railways also stepped in to meet the demand. Western Railway has announced two special trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad at special fares, including one scheduled to depart on match day, March 8, to help fans reach the city in time for the final.
The excitement surrounding the match is understandable. India go into the final with a chance to achieve something no team has ever managed in T20 World Cups. After overcoming England in a thrilling semi-final where Sanju Samson’s explosive innings helped India post 254, the hosts are now one win away from a successful title defense on home soil.
However, New Zealand comes with a lot of momentum of its own. The Black Caps produced a clinical performance in the semi-final against South Africa in Kolkata, restricting the Proteas to 168 before openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen fired. The pair powered New Zealand to victory by nine wickets in just 12.5 overs, setting up another shot at their first T20 World Cup trophy.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
07 March 2026 09:04 IST
