As the Eid Al Adha holidays approach, expatriates in the UAE are grappling with exorbitant airfare prices, a consequence of last-minute travel plans amidst soaring demand.
We have uncovered numerous cases where residents are paying up to three times more than usual for flight tickets, prompting widespread regret among those who delayed booking.
Shahbaz Ali, CEO of Reliance Aluminium and Glass Works, shared his dismay after finding out that the business-class tickets he originally secured for Dh2,700 per person a month ago skyrocketed to Dh8,500 when he decided to join his family in Bengaluru.
Similarly, Adel Anarboyev, an electronics distributor, faced a significant price hike when trying to rebook his journey to Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Initially, he canceled his trip assuming his relatives would stay put, only to discover that rebooking now costs over Dh800, far more than the Dh450 he initially paid.
Travel experts anticipated such steep increases due to the convergence of Eid Al Adha and the onset of summer vacations, leading to a rush in bookings.
Geoffrey Salatan, CEO of Geof Travel, highlighted that fares for routes like Dubai to Manila surged from Dh1,500 to Dh2,000 in previous months to a current range of Dh2,500 to Dh5,000.
Mir Waseem Raja from International Travel Services echoed these concerns, noting a surge in enquiries for travel options and package prices doubling or more for popular destinations like Georgia and Azerbaijan, now priced above Dh4,000.
A study revealed alarming statistics: routes such as Dubai to Mumbai jumped from Dh350 to Dh1,300, while Dubai to London escalated from Dh700 to a staggering Dh3,265, peaking at Dh8,612.
As families rush to secure remaining slots, availability remains a critical issue. Ramy Badr of Dopamine Travels pointed out that countries like Georgia and Kazakhstan are witnessing the highest price hikes, driven by increased demand during this festive period.
With limited seats and escalating costs, expatriates are urged to plan ahead for future holidays to avoid the financial strain of last-minute bookings. As the travel industry braces for continued high demand, prices are expected to remain elevated well beyond Eid Al Adha, affecting travel plans for many UAE residents.
For those caught off guard, the lesson is clear: early planning may be the key to securing affordable travel during peak seasons.
News Source: Khaleej Times
