Skyscanner has reported a sharp rise in flight search activity as the Men’s T20 World Cup kicks off across India and Sri Lanka, indicating strong travel demand linked to match schedules and host cities.
According to Skyscanner data, search interest for India’s host cities began rising after the tournament fixtures were announced on 25 November 2025, with momentum building steadily through December and January. Searches peaked in January, with the week of 19 January recording a 63% increase compared to the previous week. Search volumes during the week of 26 January were 35% higher than the prior week, marking the highest level for the tournament travel window.
Skyscanner tracked searches for travel dates between 7 February and 8 March, covering the full duration of the tournament. The rise reflects growing domestic travel planning as well as increased interest from international travellers searching for flights to India during the World Cup period.
For international host destinations, Colombo and Pallekele (Kandy), search activity began earlier, gaining traction from November and peaking in December and January. This trend suggests fans planning cross-border travel are booking earlier due to visa requirements, flight availability and longer lead times.
Travel demand also appears to be influenced by marquee fixtures. Searches for Colombo saw a 9% week-on-week increase in early December, aligned with the upcoming India–Pakistan match scheduled for 15 February.
Skyscanner noted that cricket continues to play a significant role in shaping travel behaviour, with fans increasingly planning domestic and international trips around major sporting events. The platform expects sustained search activity through the tournament, particularly around knockout matches and key India fixtures.
