Tourism and travel agency officials have identified four periods in which air ticket prices will rise from the local market, given the high demand for air travel during the current year 2024, stressing the importance of planning and booking tickets sufficiently in advance of travel dates, to avoid price increases that may reach significant levels. .
They added to “Emirates Today” that the main peaks, according to initial demand rates, include: spring school vacation with Eid al-Fitr vacation at the beginning of April 2024, in addition to Eid al-Adha vacation in mid-June, and summer school vacation at the end of June, in addition to winter vacation and seasons. Holidays next December.
Major peaks
In detail, the General Manager of Al-Awadi Travel Company, Amin Al-Awadi, said, “The demand for travel during peak periods rises at record rates in the local market, and consequently prices increase significantly compared to usual levels,” noting that “travel during these periods requires planning.” “In advance, a sufficient amount of time, approximately two months or more, to avoid large increases, especially for reservations made days before the travel date.”
He added: “This year will witness four major travel peaks, the most prominent of which is the coincidence of the spring school vacation with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, in addition to the Eid al-Adha holiday in mid-June, and the summer school vacation at the end of June, in addition to the winter vacation and holiday seasons next December,” stressing the importance of Early planning for customers wishing to travel during these times.
Al-Awadhi stressed that “booking and advance planning of the travel process contribute significantly to reducing costs that may strain the travel budget for customers who resort to late reservations that are only a few days before the travel date,” pointing out that “airlines offer categories and options for tickets, including the option Flexible, which allows for modifications to be made if something happens without the customer paying exorbitant fees.”
He believed that “early planning is the basis for traveling on a reasonable budget during peak periods during the current year,” noting that “the demand for travel rose to significant levels over the past year, which was reflected in a clear rise in airline ticket prices, compared to rates before the (Covid-19) pandemic.” )».
Al-Awadhi expected that demand for travel will continue to rise during the current year compared to last year’s levels, which increases the possibility of airline ticket prices continuing to rise.
Ticket prices
In the same context, the General Manager of Belhasa Tourism Company, Narouz Sarkis, said that “airline ticket prices, in conjunction with the peak seasons during the past year, witnessed significant increases due to strong demand,” expecting that ticket prices will continue to increase on average during the current year compared to levels. last year.
He stressed that “demand for travel is still strong,” pointing to other factors related to ticket prices, including aircraft fuel costs. Sarkis stated that “the main periods in which demand for travel from the local market increases coincide with school vacations, events, and public holidays scheduled like every year.”
He continued: “The demand for travel is witnessing a noticeable increase during the Eid al-Fitr holiday and the spring break this year, at a time when the local market is expected to witness a similar demand during the Eid al-Adha holiday and the beginning of the summer vacation, as well as the beginning and end of next December, coinciding with the holidays and vacations in the local market.” Pointing out that “a significant percentage of customers are resorting to early booking, which is considered the best way to travel at reasonable prices during times of high demand.”
Sarkis pointed out that airlines resort to increasing the number of flights, or operating planes with a larger capacity during peak travel, to keep pace with the strong demand for travel during this period of the year, but despite this, demand remains greater than supply, and therefore prices automatically increase as it approaches. Travel date.
Strong request
For his part, Salah Mansour, CEO of STS in the Dubai Link Group specializing in tourism and travel services, said, “The holiday seasons and public holidays in the local market are considered essential peak periods in which the demand for travel rises to record levels, which leads to… Naturally, this leads to an increase in price levels, especially to the most popular destinations.”
He added: “During the coming period, we will witness a strong demand for travel in the last week of next March, and the demand will extend at a varying pace until mid-April, also coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr holiday,” noting that “the pace of demand rises to significant levels in June also at varying periods during Eid al-Adha holiday and school summer vacation later.”
Mansour explained, “The demand is concentrated in various destinations, especially popular destinations among the country’s residents who go to visit their families and relatives, as well as popular tourist destinations, including Europe and Asia, as well as stations that do not require a prior visa for residents of the country.”
Mansour expected air ticket prices to rise compared to last year’s levels, due to the strong demand for travel, with the operational capacity of scheduled seats returning to pre-pandemic levels, agreeing with his counterpart that “booking and planning early is still the best factor for obtaining tickets at reasonable prices for travel during peak periods.” ».
2024-01-09 19:00:00
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