Cleartrip, the leading travel agency in the UAE, announced that the average price of airline tickets in the UAE market has increased by 10% during the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. Once a year.

Ticket prices continued to rise during the first six months of 2019, with an average ticket price of $ 279 (about AED 1,026) per person in the UAE market, the company said in a study announced at a press conference in Dubai yesterday. Against $ 297 in Bahrain, the highest in the GCC.

Average prices

Clearly, the results of a study conducted by ClearTrip, a company specializing in the field of mobile and Internet travel bookings, showed that technological development, expanding markets and visiting prices are still driving the GCC travel sector.

The study showed that the average prices of airline tickets in the UAE market rose by 10% during the first half of this year, compared to the same period last year.

It pointed out that the Sultanate of Oman recorded the highest increase reaching 28%, compared to 9% and 8% for the Bahraini and Saudi markets respectively, while Kuwait recorded the lowest increase of 4%.

Elevations

Airline ticket prices continued to rise in the first half of this year, with an average ticket price of US $ 279 (about AED 1,026) per person in the UAE market, compared to US $ 297 in Bahrain, the highest in the GCC. It was followed by Oman and Saudi Arabia with 239 and 206 dollars each, respectively.

The Cleartrip study pointed out that despite the decline in prices, travelers from the UAE and Saudi Arabia witnessed an increase in the prices of flights to some destinations during the current year, noting that the highest was the prices of flights from Sharjah to Lucknow, which recorded an increase of 38% Next came flights from Dubai to Islamabad, up 37%, and flights from Dubai to Delhi, up 33%.

Increased competition

In contrast, increased competition between some destinations contributed to a 25% drop in prices, with flights from Riyadh to Dammam dropping by 25%, while Dubai to Jeddah dropped by 25%. The trend towards holidays for the shortest period continued to rise, with the popularity of new and classic destinations increasing, while London and Paris recorded the largest decline among the traditional tourist cities by 13% and 10% respectively in terms of average prices.

She explained that 69% of traders traveling in the UAE market make payments for airline tickets using credit cards, compared to 23% for direct debit cards, and 8% through other channels.

The study added that more than 40% of travelers dealing with the UAE market booked tickets one month before the date of travel, compared to 3% booked on the same day of travel, pointing out that mobile phone bookings increased by 56% in the UAE market, while arriving Average growth rate in GCC countries to 76%.

Travel times

"According to surveys conducted by the company, the average number of trips per person in the UAE market is around 2.5 times a year," said Amit Tanega, chief business officer at Cleartrip.

"The e-book market is witnessing significant developments in the region, while travel enthusiasts continue to look for competitive offers," he said.

Great makeover

“There is a big shift now towards the digital world,” said Stuart Crighton, founder and CEO of Cleartrip. “The changes are not only happening in terms of where travelers prefer to go, what they want to test, but also how to book. And when to do it. ”

“We have seen short vacations and last minute bookings more prevalent, as travelers have become more curious about identifying undiscovered destinations in the region,” added Crighton.

1026

Average price

Travel ticket in

UAE market, during

First half of 2019.