Travel agencies: These included Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Kuwait

Low prices of airline tickets to 4 Arab destinations

• Some countries imposed new restrictions on travel due to the mutated strain of "the virus".

  Reuters

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Travel agencies confirmed that the prices of airline tickets to regional destinations such as: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Kuwait witnessed a 10% decline on average during the first quarter of this year, compared to the last quarter of 2020, pointing out that prices are currently at low levels. , However, it is close to pre-pandemic (Covid-19) rates.

She explained to Emirates Today that some airlines have resorted, recently, to offering offers for future reservations, especially to destinations that occupy a large capacity to them, noting that air carriers do not resort to lowering prices by large percentages now, because they believe that This policy will not drive demand significantly.

The agencies expected the demand for travel to rise again, at remarkable rates, as of next summer.

Restore confidence

In detail, Mamoun Hamidan, the general manager of the company "Wego", which specializes in the sector of travel services and online reservations for the Middle East, North Africa and India, said that travel at this time requires coordinated measures, including new standards and protocols, to limit the Coronavirus pandemic ( Covid-19).

He added that it is important to note the standards and precautionary measures taken by the UAE to restore confidence in the tourism sector, as it applies the highest safety standards in all stages of travel, in addition to providing vaccinations for all residents, as it is one of the world's leading countries in this regard.

Humaidan explained that with the gradual recovery of travel in the region, the average price of the ticket changes from one country to another, indicating that the average price of a plane ticket from the UAE to Egypt, during the first quarter of 2021, is 352 dollars (about 1292 dirhams), A decrease of 12%, compared to the last quarter of 2020.

He continued: “As for Jordan, the average ticket price from the UAE in the first quarter is about 466 dollars (about 1710 dirhams), a decrease of 11%, while the average price of a ticket from the UAE to Lebanon is 420 dollars (about 1541 dirhams), a decrease of 2 % ».

Humaidan pointed out that the average ticket price to Kuwait amounts to 716 dollars (about 2,637 dirhams), a decrease of 45%, while the average ticket price to Saudi Arabia is about 536 dollars (about 1967 dirhams), but this destination recorded an increase of 15%, during the period Same comparison.

Noticeable decline

In addition, the general manager of the «Al-Awadi Travel Company», Amin Al-Awadi, said that the prices of airline tickets witnessed a significant decline during the first quarter of this year compared to the last quarter of 2020, in light of the decline in demand for travel in the first class, with the imposition of restrictions New to air travel, airlines are re-examining the seat capacity they provide on flights.

He added that the rates of decline in ticket prices for regional destinations such as Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and some Gulf destinations amounted to about 10%, compared to the last quarter of 2020, while other destinations witnessed greater rates of decline in average airline ticket prices, pointing out that indicators These prices apply to flight reservations for the entire first quarter period.

Al-Awadi stressed that airline ticket prices are currently at low levels, but they are close to pre-pandemic levels. As for some destinations that apply travel restrictions, we see that the average prices are still high, compared to normal levels, indicating that airlines are seeking, during the period. The current, and in light of the uncertainty, to adjust its flight schedules and ticket prices, in balance with the operational costs and the volume of its operations.

Al-Awadi continued: “With regard to some flights, we find huge increases in airline tickets prices, especially in the event that new travel restrictions are announced, especially at the destination, due to the high demand prior to the application of these restrictions,” noting that some airlines have resorted, During the recent period, offers were launched for future reservations, especially to destinations that occupy a large capacity to them, in an effort to increase the percentage of sales.

Operating capacity

In the same context, the general manager of the Belhasa Tourism Company, Narrows Sarkis, said that airlines are currently operating at below their operational capacity, in light of the weak global demand for travel, pointing out that airline ticket prices are directly affected by the number of flights. Available to a destination, and the nature of restrictions imposed therein.

He added that despite the significant decline in travel demand due to the pandemic, ticket prices remained at relatively stable levels, and in some destinations were higher compared to pre-"Covid-19" levels, pointing out that air carriers do not resort to lowering prices by proportions. Significant in light of the pandemic, as it believes that this policy will not drive demand significantly.

Sarkis stated that, with the start of vaccination campaigns in a large number of countries, and the emergence of positive results for the Corona vaccine at the beginning of this year, amid indications of the growth in travel demand, countries began to impose new restrictions due to the mutated strain of the virus, which brought the demand back to levels. Before the end of last year, he pointed out that restrictions, and people's fear of travel, contributed to the decline in prices during the first quarter of this year, compared to the last quarter of 2020, by an average of about 10% to regional destinations in the region.

He pointed out that many airlines around the world have resorted to operating smaller aircraft, especially to regional destinations, as part of controlling their operational costs, pointing out that expectations indicate that the demand for travel will rise again and significantly, starting from next summer.

• Airlines are operating below their operational capacity, in light of weak demand for travel.

Ticket prices are at low levels, but close to pre-"pandemic" levels.

• 45% decrease in the average ticket price to Kuwait.

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