Great demand for travel… and an increase in ticket prices by up to 40%

Airline ticket prices in the last two weeks of December witnessed increases ranging between 20 and 40%, compared to price levels in the first week of the same month, to Arab destinations for flights originating from the local market.

Managers and workers in the tourism and travel sector told Emirates Al-Youm that the increase in prices coincided with the last travel peak before the end of the year, with the start of the winter holidays for schools, as well as the holiday season and the New Year, pointing out that the great demand pushes prices to rise further as Travel dates are approaching.

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In detail, the General Director of Al-Faisal Travel and Tourism Agency, Yassin Diab, said, “Air transport is witnessing a great demand during the current period, and it reached its peak starting in the second half of December, with the start of the winter holidays for schools, as well as the holiday season and the New Year’s occasion.” Pointing out that this applies to flights arriving into the country and departing as well.

Diab stated that “the holiday season prompts many of the country’s residents to visit their families, in addition to the demand to spend holidays in tourist destinations,” adding: “On the other hand, the UAE is witnessing great demand as it is a prominent tourism destination that tourists from various markets around the world come to spend their vacation in.” “Especially New Year’s Eve.”

He stated that “the increases in flight prices from the UAE to Arab destinations in the last two weeks of December ranged between 25 and 40% on average,” pointing out that the most in-demand destinations are Jordan, Egypt, and Morocco, in addition to the markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, explaining that the prices Tickets in the first week of December are, on average, 15% higher than November and October levels.

Diab explained that “prices rise as the rate of demand for flights increases, and we expect, over the next few days, that they will reach greater levels compared to the average flight prices in the first week of December,” pointing out that “occupancy rates are constantly rising on flights and we expect flights to record Many weather conditions will be at almost complete levels during the coming period.”

Air travel

For his part, CEO of Dubai Link Group, Dr. Haitham Al Haj Ali, said: “The demand for air travel continues to rise significantly since the beginning of this year, which has led to an increase in average ticket prices by a rate ranging between 5 and 7% compared to last year’s levels, except “Prices rise at greater rates during peak times,” pointing out that flight prices for the peak of December, specifically the last two weeks, are higher by rates ranging between 20 and 40% compared to the average at the beginning of the same month.

Al-Hajj Ali pointed out that the markets that witnessed the highest increase in flights abroad are Jordan and Egypt, in addition to destinations in Southeast Asia, indicating that with the rise in occupancy rates on flights, greater increases are expected during the next few days, noting that booking Early birding is still the best way to get affordable tickets, especially during regular peak periods.

December trips

In addition, the General Manager of Belhasa Tourism Company, Narouz Sarkis, said, “The demand for travel has increased significantly for trips in December 2024, and has also affected flights arriving to the country and departing as well, with the country’s residents heading to visit their countries, as well as the tourism movement.” strong in the UAE, coinciding with the holiday season and New Year’s Eve,” pointing out that the UAE is a global tourist destination.

Sarkis stated that “flights are currently witnessing high occupancy rates, and it is expected that some of them will reach full rates within a few days,” pointing out that “the demand for air travel is at its peak during December, which contributed to the rise in prices at varying rates ranging between 30 and 40%.” He explained that “a large percentage of reservations are concentrated at the beginning of the school winter vacation and before the New Year’s Eve.”