As of next July, travel agencies advise adopting flexible dates to avoid hikes

Increases of more than 100% in airline ticket prices to 5 Arab destinations

• The rise in ticket prices coincides with the summer holidays for schools and the Eid al-Adha holiday.

  AFP

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Data for websites specialized in flight reservations showed an increase in the average prices of travel tickets to five Arab destinations, with rates exceeding 100% for direct flights from the UAE, in the first week of next July, coinciding with the summer holidays for schools and the Eid al-Adha holiday.

The most requested Arab destinations, which were monitored by Emirates Today, included the Egyptian cities of Cairo and Alexandria, Jordan's Amman, Lebanon's Beirut, and Morocco's Casablanca.

Travel agency officials told "Emirates Today" that ticket prices reach their peak starting from the fourth of next July, expecting that these increases will exceed 100% for recent reservations.

They advised travelers to adopt flexible travel dates to avoid these increases.

average prices

In detail, data for websites specialized in flight reservations revealed an increase in the average prices of travel tickets to five Arab destinations, with rates exceeding 100%, for direct flights from the UAE market, in conjunction with the summer holidays for schools and the Eid al-Adha holiday.

The average price of a travel ticket to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, reached about 3000 dirhams between the first of next July until the eighth of the same month, compared to about 1500 dirhams for flights from 12 to 19 June, with a 100% increase.

The average ticket price to the Lebanese capital Beirut was 2,900 dirhams, compared to 1,400 dirhams, with an increase of 107%, and to the Jordanian capital, Amman, 2,700 dirhams, compared to 1,600 dirhams, with an increase of 69%, and to the city of Alexandria, about 2,500 dirhams, compared to 1,300 dirhams, with an increase of about 92%. Casablanca is about 3800 dirhams compared to 2800 dirhams, a growth of 36%.

gradual rise

The Director General of Al-Faisal Travel and Tourism Agency, Yassin Diab, said that the prices of airline tickets began to rise gradually for flights that coincide with the beginning of the school vacation and the Eid al-Adha holiday, pointing out that prices reach their peak starting from the fourth of next July.

Diab added that for the reservations that were made early, that is, two months ago, the average prices were reasonable, but it has recorded a continuous rise since mid-May for flights that coincide with the beginning of July, pointing out that the demand for travel is still very strong, including to The usual Arab destinations, where the country's residents visit their families, as well as relatively nearby tourist destinations for vacations.

He pointed out that the increases in ticket prices for flights at the beginning of next July amount to about 100% to some destinations, and may continue to rise at greater levels for future reservations, noting that the demand during this period exceeds the available supply of seats.

early bookings

For his part, the Director-General of Al-Awadi Travel Company, Amin Al-Awadi, said that the prices of airline tickets began to gradually rise for flights that coincide with the first week of next July, several weeks ago, with a large part of the demand focusing on travel during this period, noting that Ticket prices vary from one destination to another, but they are at very high rates.

Al-Awadi stated that the prices of airline tickets for this period will continue to rise in the coming days, and may reach record levels for reservations made hours before the travel date, stressing the importance of early booking to avoid large increases, and early travel planning.

And he indicated that the increases are limited to a specific period of time coinciding with the start of the school vacation and the Eid al-Adha holiday, to decline later to their usual levels, noting that choosing flexible dates for travel reduces the level of costs significantly.

Flexible dates

In addition, the general manager of "Belhasa Tourism Company", Narouz Sarkis, said that the increases in ticket prices may exceed the 100% barrier in the coming days for flights during the first week of next July, especially to some of the most sought-after destinations, pointing out that the prices of tickets for The destination of Cairo may reach up to 4500 dirhams.

Sarkis indicated that the higher the occupancy rate on flights, the higher the prices, indicating that travel costs could be reduced if customers chose flexible travel dates away from peak times.

He added that ticket prices to Cairo for flights starting from the middle of next July until the first week of August are between 40 and 50% lower compared to the levels of the first week of July.

He expected a large number of trips during the peak period to record 100% full occupancy rates, in light of the high demand, noting that early booking is still the best way to obtain discounted prices for the usual peak season trips.

Round trips

The data in the survey conducted by "Emirates Today" includes the prices of direct round trip flights during the period between July 1, 2022 and until the eighth of the same month, compared to the average prices for the same trips from June 12 to 19.

These rates, which are subject to availability, are the least expensive, and are different from “flexible rates” which provide additional benefits. 

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