The Eid Al Adha break is proving to be a costly affair for last-minute travellers, with airfares soaring to more than triple the usual rates, according to a reports.
Surge in Eid Al Adha Airfares Hits Last-Minute Travelers Hard
Shahbaz Ali, an Indian expat, shared his recent ordeal when booking a ticket to Bengaluru. A month ago, he paid Dh2,700 per person for a business-class seat for his family, omitting his own due to scheduled meetings. However, when he attempted to book his ticket later, he was astounded to find the price had skyrocketed to Dh8,500 per person. His initial hesitation to secure a ticket earlier due to commitments led to this significant increase.
Adel Anarboyev, another expat, faced a similar predicament. Initially booking a one-way ticket to Samarkand for Dh450, he later cancelled it, assuming his relatives in Dubai would stay for Eid. However, with plans changing and relatives gathering, he found the cheapest available flight on June 15, now costing over Dh800 for a 25-hour journey. Alternatively, a faster 13-hour route with a layover in Turkey demanded upwards of Dh2,500.
Demand Focus on Popular Destinations
Travel experts foresaw this surge in airfares, attributing it to the convergence of Eid al-Adha and the summer vacation season. This overlap has prompted many families to travel extensively during this period, increasing demand significantly. Geoffrey Salatan from Geof Travel noted that fares from Dubai to Manila have escalated from Dh1,500–Dh2,000 in March–April to Dh2,500–Dh5,000 during the Eid holidays. He anticipates that these elevated prices will persist throughout the summer travel season.
Alongside inflated prices, the availability of seats has become a pressing issue for spontaneous travelers. travelers. Mir Waseem Raja of International Travel Services highlighted the overwhelming demand for air travel, particularly noticeable for destinations in the Caucasian region. This surge has led to a substantial hike in package prices, with trips to Georgia and Azerbaijan, previously priced around Dh2,799, now exceeding Dh4,000.
The analysis revealed staggering increases of three to sevenfold in airfares from the UAE to various destinations. For instance, flights from Dubai to Mumbai, which were as low as Dh350 in February, now command Dh1,300 for a one-way ticket. Similarly, fares to London, priced at Dh700 in March, have surged to Dh3,265–Dh8,612 for Eid Al-Adha travel.
The demand spike is particularly pronounced for popular destinations like Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, where increased bookings have driven up prices significantly. Ramy Badr of Dopamine Travels emphasized that sectors such as the Caucasian region and parts of Africa are witnessing the highest spikes in airfares due to heightened demand during the festive season.
As travelers grapple with these exorbitant costs and limited availability, industry experts stress the importance of early planning and booking to circumvent the steep premiums associated with last-minute travel during peak holiday periods.