UAE Residents Face a Spike in Flight Costs for Extended Union Day Weekend
Dubai: UAE residents with travel plans during the extended UAE Union Day weekend will have paid 15-30 per cent more to book a flight – whether to India or the US – compared to September fares.
In fact, to certain destinations, ticket rates from the UAE have doubled compared to the off-peak phase during September.
Return Economy airfares for travel from November 28 to December 3 average Dh1,482 (Dubai to Mumbai) to Dh3,805 (Dubai to London), compared to Dh875 to Dh2,530 just a month ago. For popular South Asian destinations like Bangkok (Dh2,975) and Tokyo (Dh5,725), fares have also surged compared to post-summer lows of Dh1,790 and Dh4,270.
Additionally, there was an additional spike in ticket rates after UAE authorities announced that the UAE Union Day weekend will include that Monday (December 4) as well.
The most significant rate hikes have happened on flights to most airports in India and the United States, with the most significant increases. Fares have held steady to certain destinations, while for the UK, there is an additional 10-15 per cent increase as the Christmas and New Year breaks approach.
Direct Economy return airfares to European destinations are averaging from Dh1,511 (Prague) to Dh2,845 (Paris) and Dh3,705 (Barcelona) to Dh2,125 (Athens). Shanawaz Khan, founder of Trips Away, stated that fares have remained steady since September due to persistent delays in Schengen visa appointments from the UAE.
Since the UAE Union Day holidays (December 2-4) stretch over Saturday to Monday, some travelers, especially families, are pushing their trips by another week. Rashid Abbas, Managing Director of Arooha Travels, stated that traveling after December 9 makes sense for families since schools would close for the winter break. He also added that the fares are pretty high for a quick getaway, but many are looking at local staycations or trips to nearby destinations.
To save on high costs, travelers are opting for group and custom travel packages from travel agencies, with top destinations including Georgia, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. Many travelers are also choosing connecting flights instead of a direct flight to save on costs and time.
With high flight costs and extended holiday weekends, residents are looking for alternative ways to save on their travel expenses and maximize their time off.
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