UAE: Airfares rise by nearly 400% to popular tourist destinations
Unprecedented increases in airfare have dampened the excitement of UAE nationals preparing to visit famous tourist spots throughout the Eid al-Fitr holidays.
Reports show a notable surge in ticket costs, with some nations witnessing an almost 400% increase, as citizens prepare for what could potentially be a nine-day national holiday.
Firoz Maliyakkal, the founder and CEO of Tahira Tours and Travels, identified various factors contributing to the price escalation. Maliyakkal explained, "The price surge is due to the ease of travel to many countries, availability of visa-on-arrival facilities, affordability, and favorable weather conditions, making it an ideal short trip for UAE residents."
He further highlighted the sudden depletion of ticket stocks owing to overwhelming demand, noting that only a limited number of airline and service tickets are currently available and are quickly being snapped up.
The UAE authorities have announced Eid holidays for private sector employees, potentially spanning from Monday, April 8 (Ramadan 29), to Friday, April 12 (Shawwal 3). When factoring in the Saturday-Sunday weekends before and after the break, this amounts to nine consecutive days off, from Saturday, April 6, to Sunday, April 14.
Libin Varghese, Operations Head at Rooh Tourism and Travel, noted that the extended break has led to increased demand, enabling residents to plan trips more flexibly. Varghese emphasized the allure of the picturesque landscapes in Caucasian countries coupled with favorable weather conditions during this period, further fueling travel demand.
Varghese added, "These countries have always been in high demand, and packages are selling out rapidly during the Eid holidays. We have witnessed a surge in bookings, with many packages to these countries already sold out due to the high demand."
A comparison conducted across various ticketing platforms revealed the magnitude of the surge. For instance, one-way airfares to Tbilisi in Georgia surged to Dh1,500, significantly higher than the usual rate of approximately Dh300.
Similarly, flights from Dubai to Yerevan in Armenia and Baku showed substantial increases in airfare during the holiday period. In contrast, airfares to the India and Pakistan sectors have remained relatively stable, experiencing a modest increase of 40 to 50 percent during the Eid break.
Raheesh Babu, COO of Musafir.com, noted a significant surge in travel demand from the Gulf region to India during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday season, driven by the extended nine-day break and school spring break. However, accompanying the heightened demand, airfare prices have seen notable increases, ranging from 40 percent to 50 percent on certain routes during the Eid al-Fitr season.
