Airline ticket offers are “limited” and concentrated in tourist stations

Travel agencies said that airlines have offered offers on travel tickets to specific destinations within their global network, and they are currently available for reservation, and valid for travel starting from the second half of this January until the end of next February, pointing out that the offers are “limited” and partial, and include a percentage that does not exceed 10% of the seats available on the flight, and are concentrated in tourist destinations in the first class, while they are transferred to “Middle Eastern” stations.

She attributed the limited number of offers during this period, compared to previous years, to the continued strong demand for travel, especially to the destinations that the country’s residents are accustomed to traveling to. It is expected that airlines will launch their special offers for the spring and summer vacations in the coming weeks.

Partial offers

The General Manager of Belhasa Tourism Company, Narouz Sarkis, told Emirates Al-Youm: “Airlines have resorted to offering offers on travel tickets concentrated in tourist destinations in Europe and some relatively nearby stations,” noting that “air carriers aim to encourage travel to… Stations where demand declines with the end of the peak season.

He added: “The offers are valid for reservation now, and for travel during the second half of this January until the end of next February,” pointing out that the share of Middle Eastern destinations in the offers is less, compared to tourist stations in Europe, and the offers are partial and include a percentage that does not exceed 10% of the seats. Available on the flight, in light of the strong demand for travel.

Sarkis confirmed that the prices of these offers are lower compared to their usual levels, given that they are limited in duration and apply to specific destinations only. He explained that the offers exclude the peak period during next March, coinciding with school holidays and the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

He stressed that these offers constitute an opportunity for those wishing to travel to tourist destinations during this period and spend vacations there, expecting that the demand for travel during the current year will remain strong, compared to last year’s levels.

Demand strength

For his part, Salah Mansour, CEO of STS in the Dubai Link Group, attributed the decline in offers offered by airlines, especially to Middle Eastern destinations, to the strong demand for travel to these destinations.

He added to Emirates Today: “The offers offered by airlines this winter include selected destinations, aimed at increasing demand for first-class travel,” pointing out that “the offers are concentrated in tourist destinations in Western and Eastern Europe, as well as destinations on the Indian Ocean islands.”

He continued: “Given the period before the (Covid-19) pandemic, air carriers usually intensified winter offers for flight tickets to various destinations after the New Year’s holiday, including destinations in the Middle East region, but we are currently witnessing fewer offers, because The demand for travel between January and February during this year in particular is still strong, given that the holy month of Ramadan will start early, and therefore more travelers are looking forward to traveling before the month of fasting, whether for the purpose of work or visiting.”

Mansour expected that airlines would offer additional offers for travel during the period following the Eid al-Fitr holiday, and for travel during the summer, and that these offers and their prices would be valid for booking and travel within a specific time frame.

Correction wave

In the same context, Badr Ahli, Executive Director of Dubai World Travel Company, said: “Airline ticket prices have witnessed a major correction wave during the current period, compared to their levels during the holiday season in December 2024,” noting that prices have declined at significant rates for travel currently.

My family added: “The demand for travel is still strong, and therefore we have not witnessed this great demand by airline companies to offer offers on travel tickets, especially to the stations that the country’s residents are accustomed to traveling to,” pointing out that business travel is witnessing an increasing demand during January and February of the year. This year, there is a decline during the month of Ramadan.

Ahly expected that airlines will resort in the coming weeks to launching their special offers during the month of Ramadan, the spring period, and the summer, noting that more air carriers are preparing to announce these offers, which will be valid at specific periods, according to special terms and conditions for promotional prices.

He said: “Compared to previous years, the months of January and February of this year witness a greater demand for travel, with higher occupancy rates on flights to various destinations.”

Badr my family:

. Airline ticket prices witnessed a major correction during the current period, compared to December 2024 levels.

Salah Mansour:

. The offers are concentrated in tourist destinations in Western and Eastern Europe, as well as in the Indian Ocean island destinations.

Naroz Sarkis:

. Air carriers aim to encourage travel to destinations where demand declines with the end of the peak season.

. The offers exclude the peak period during next March, coinciding with school holidays and the Eid al-Fitr holiday.