UAE residents can look forward to more affordable travel plans as airfares are set to drop significantly starting September 18.
The airlines finally lowered their prices after months of high ticket costs due to Eid school and summer vacation. That is good news for those who are going to travel to the UK, USA, Indian subcontinent, and even within the GCC because the ticket prices will drop by 30 to 50% according to the route.
Flights to the US for example will experience some of the greatest decreases, with prices plummeting by as much as 50%. Even for the last-minute traveler, these rates are much lower.
Rikant Pitti, cofounder of EaseMyTrip, says that there will be a slight increase in airfare during Gitex Global in Dubai from October 14-18. “We’ve seen a surge in corporate bookings for the event, with companies typically booking for groups of 5-6 passengers,” Pitti noted, adding that the influx of tech leaders and investors is driving significant travel demand, further boosting Dubai’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector.
In the last two years alone, exhibitions and conferences such as Gitex Global, Gulfood, and Abu Dhabi’s Adipec have broken all previous records for attendance, reflecting the increasing importance of these events in the region.
Fares to the US
For example, roundtrip economy tickets from Dubai to New York will fall to Dh3,030 with United Airways between September 18 and 30, a considerable decrease from the July-August highs of Dh6,850-8,850. Other US destinations, such as San Francisco, will see fares reduced to Dh5,360 from Dh7,780 in the summer, while Boston flights will drop to Dh4,660 from Dh7,910.
Fares to the UK
Flights to London will also become more affordable, with British Airways offering tickets at Dh2,260, down from the summer rates of Dh4,570 to Dh4,750.
Fares to India
Travelers to India can expect significant savings, with flights to Mumbai priced at Dh749, down from Dh940, Chennai at Dh869 from Dh1,563, and Bengaluru at Dh1,104 from Dh1,745. Fares to Kerala will see dramatic drops, with tickets to Thiruvananthapuram priced at Dh1,052, down from Dh2,410.
Other Destinations
Prices for the popular route to the Maldives will dip a little in July and August to Dh3,070 from Dh3,312. Direct flights to Bangkok will fall to Dh1,597, from Dh2,906.
According to Malou Prado, CEO of Dubai-based MPQ Travel and Tourism, many travelers have started booking their trips for mid-September to early October to take advantage of these lower fares. The reduced airfares are expected to last until the first week of November, after which prices may rise again by up to 40% during the winter travel season.
Post-Summer Promotions by UAE Airlines
With the expected lull in travel, UAE and GCC carriers have already launched their post-summer sales with tickets as low as Dh160 to some major destinations. Oman’s budget airline, SalamAir has come up with a new strategy and is offering very low fares. The tickets can be booked from July 24-31 for travel between Sep 16 and Dec 15. The starting fare for flights between Muscat and Salalah is Omani Riyal 19 (Dh180).
Etihad Airways has also just started its week-long sale with reduced flights to Sri Lanka, Maldives, Greece, India, and the UK. This offer is good only for online bookings made through Etihad and is good for travel between September and November. Round-trip tickets to the Maldives cost Dh850 on economy, tickets to Jordan are at a minimum of Dh750. Return fares to India are set at Dh1,130.
Air Arabia, based in Sharjah, is advertising a “Big Sale on Small Fares” with fares starting at Dh169, taxes included (airport taxes not included). A one-way ticket to Delhi, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, India, Dh169.
Saudi Arabia’s national carrier has just released some promotional deals with discounts of up to 50% on International flights out of King Abdul Aziz International Airport (Jeddah) and King Khalid International Airport (Riyadh).