Flights to UAE likely to be cheaper by 50pc

KARACHI: Gulf News has claimed that the airfares of the flights from the world over to the UAE will drop by 50 percent.

It added that the current rates were very high, but the airfares on the high-demanding routes will sharply go down. The reduced fares will likely last from January 15 to March 10. Schools in the UAE will resume classes in January and businesses will be engaged in the preparation of the annual budget, resulting in a decline into travel demand and airfares.

According to Gulf News, the airfares will reduce by 50-60 percent as compared to their level from September to October 2024, while the rates touched the peak in December. “Economy Class fares (from January 15 to 29) on London Heathrow Airport to Dubai International will see a considerable drop of Dh2,410 compared to the December highs of Dh5,135 (one-way). Return Economy class rates from New York to Dubai will be at Dh3,519 compared to the eye-popping Dh6,487 travelers had to put up the last week of December,” as per Gulf News.

The Gulf News added, “San Francisco to Dubai would cost Dh5,943 (vs. Dh7,600 in December), and flights from Boston would cost Dh4.276. Fares to European destinations will average from Dh2,722 (Paris) to Dh3,005 (Amsterdam). Manila to Dubai airfares will fall to Dh2,000 by end January, compared to the highs of Dh5,000 that the travelers were forced to pay in Q4-23. Currently, UAE’s in and outbound ticket rates are surfing at well over 25-50 per cent higher than what they were in September and first-half October.”

According to ANI, the fares of domestic flights in India have gone down by 28 percent from December 24 to January 1, as compared to the last year.

As per ABC News, It is forecast that the airfares for international flights from Australia will be considerably reduced. All airlines, including Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways, have announced projects to improve their capacities. The airfares are likely to further drop due to the Turkish Airlines flight operations in the Australian market.

Quoting the CEO of Dubai-based MPQ Travel and Tourism, Gulf News mentioned, “By the second and third week of January, long-haul routes from the UAE will experience the biggest fare reductions after peak winter travel demand. But for now, demand for flights into Dubai has been exceptional, …. many UAE-based Filipinos are returning to the Emirates after an extended winter break.”

Quoting Chairman, Smart Travels, Gulf News reported, “There won’t be much travel demand from families with school-going children and business travel during this time, bringing about that much-needed respite from high airfares. And as a big chunk of the winter festivities end with the New Year celebrations in the country, pleasant weather and quieter business activity will keep demand and prices stable until March 10.”

The Gulf News further quoted him, saying, “for a lower cost visit the UAE, the best time would be between mid-January to late February.”

“We are seeing a lot of demand originating from Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean countries, and some European travellers who have moved their holidays to mid-January to early March to take advantage of cheaper fares and lower hotel rates in the UAE,” Gulf News quoted Shanavaz Khan, founder of Trips Away.

“According to the International Air Travel Association (IATA), some 4.7 billion people are expected to travel in 2024, a high that exceeds the pre-pandemic level of 4.5 billion recorded in 2019,” the Gulf News mentioned.