Average prices are 40% higher than usual
"Spring" and "Al-Fitr" holidays raise the prices of airline tickets to Arab destinations
Travel demand has been on the rise for weeks. Archival
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Managers and workers in travel agencies said that the prices of airline tickets are gradually rising to Arab destinations, coinciding with the peaks of the "spring break" at the end of March, and the "Eid al-Fitr" holiday in the second half of next April, pointing out that ticket prices on peak flights are about 40% higher compared to their usual levels since the beginning of this year.
They told Emirates Today that the prices of the first peak flights during the spring break begin to rise gradually from the last week of March, to reach high levels starting from the end of the same month, to rise again from mid-April, coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Spring break
In detail, the general manager of Belhasa Tourism, Naroz Sarkis, said that «demand for travel has been witnessing a significant increase for weeks for trips that coincide with the beginning of the spring break, and also in the second half of April, coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr holiday», noting that «demand remains at high levels during the period between the two peaks as well, but at lower levels».
Sarkis added that «the prices of flights for peak days at the end of March and during the Eid al-Fitr holiday are higher by between 30 and 40%, compared to their usual levels since the beginning of this year», noting that the prices of these flights are constantly increasing whenever the rate of seats sold on the flight increases.
He pointed out that «the demand for travel is still strong, and there is an increasing segment of customers wishing to travel, within the framework of the wave of revenge travel following the Corona pandemic», explaining that the demand in the local market is divided into two parts: the first, for the purpose of visiting residents in the country to spend vacations in their countries with family and friends, as well as tourism demand with part of the country's population heading to spend holidays in nearby tourist destinations, as well as other stations in Western Europe and South Asia.
He pointed out that the Arab destinations that are witnessing great demand during these peak periods are Cairo, Beirut, Amman and Alexandria, as well as Khartoum, Tunisia and Morocco, pointing out that Sharm El Sheikh is one of the tourist destinations that are expected to witness demand from the local market, as well as Georgia and Armenia.
Sarkis pointed out that «some flights reach almost complete levels by close to 100%, and it is expected that the number of these (complete) flights will increase as the travel dates approach», expecting prices to continue to rise for recent reservations that are made a few hours or days before the date of travel, pointing out that «early booking is still better to get reduced prices».
Continuous rise
In a related context, the Director General of «Al-Faisal Travel and Tourism Agency», Yassin Diab, said that «demand for travel continues to rise», pointing out that «ticket prices in the early days, coinciding with the spring break, record high levels, compared to the average prices in the usual times since the beginning of this year, but in general lower compared to the prices of peak trips during the Eid al-Fitr holiday».
Diab added that «the average prices of airline tickets for peak flights at the beginning of the spring break and the Eid al-Fitr holiday, up to 30% higher compared to their usual rates, away from peak times», noting that «the greatest demand for travel is the visit of family and relatives to popular destinations for the residents of the UAE, especially to Arab or Asian stations».
He pointed out that «tourist demand, in turn, is witnessing growth to stations in Eastern Europe and South Asia, and some stations in Western Europe», pointing out that «reservations are continuing, and it is expected that demand will rise at greater rates in the next few days, which will be reflected in the prices of airline tickets».
Tourist demand
In addition, the General Manager of Al-Awadhi Travels, Amin Al-Awadhi, said that «tourist demand during the spring break and Eid Al-Fitr, is still at modest levels currently, but as in previous years, we expect a greater turnout as the date of travel approaches, as a large segment of travelers resort to booking their holidays at late times a few days before the date of travel».
Al-Awadhi added that «the largest part of the demand for travel during the spring break and the break of the fast, is the trips to visit family and relatives for the residents of the country», pointing out that «Arab destinations have a wide share of reservations, including Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, as well as Sudan, Morocco and Tunisia, as well as Asian stations».
He pointed out that «the demand for travel usually rises significantly during holidays and vacations to these destinations, as a large segment of the population accepts to visit their countries», pointing out that the prices of airline tickets for some days, for peak flights, are about 30 to 40% higher compared to their usual levels, and may exceed the barrier of 50% for late reservations as the date of travel approaches.
Peak flights
Data from websites showed an increase in the average prices of airline tickets to Arab and regional destinations, by up to 35% compared to the average prices of flights during March.
According to the data, the increase in the prices of flights from the UAE market (round trip for 7 days) coincided with two periods, the first starting from March 28 until the end of the first week of April, and the second from April 22 until the first of next May.
The average increase in ticket prices during the first peak, from March 28 to the end of the first week of April, was about 15% on average, reaching about 35% in the second peak from April 22 until the first of May.