UAE Airfares Double as School Openings Approach, Expats Return from Summer Vacations
The India-UAE travel corridor experiences the steepest increase in airfare amid the back-to-school rush. As expats and nationals return from long summer vacations, inbound airfares to the UAE nearly double ahead of school openings later this month.
Mid-August marks the period when many UAE families return from their vacations, leading to a surge in demand and a significant rise in airfares. Most UAE schools are set to reopen around August 26, prompting families to plan their return a few days in advance. Travel agents in Dubai report that several destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe see a spike in inbound airfares as demand surpasses supply. The Indian subcontinent, in particular, witnesses a dramatic increase in airfares due to the large population of South Asian nationals in the UAE. Data indicates that airfares on Indian routes, especially from Mumbai and Kerala, rise by over 50 percent during the back-to-school period. Travel agents confirm that prices on some routes nearly double during this peak season.
The high rates on flights from India to the UAE have also been discussed in the Indian parliament. Calls from residents and travel agents to expand seating capacity between the UAE and India to meet the growing demand have been ongoing.
Airfares Double
Rashida Zahid, vice-president of operations at Musafir.com, attributes the surge in UAE-bound airfares to the influx of expatriate families returning for the new academic year. “As families prepare to return for their children’s new academic year, the demand for flights skyrockets. The increased demand and limited flight availability during peak travel periods inevitably drive up ticket prices. Airlines often adjust fares to accommodate higher demand, resulting in significant price hikes. Additionally, school holidays in various countries align with the UAE’s academic calendar, which worsens the travel rush,” she said.
Rashida noted that while airfares rise across various regions during peak travel periods, the Indian subcontinent experiences the most dramatic hikes, with fares nearly doubling ahead of school reopenings due to the massive influx of returning expatriates. “In contrast, Europe and the Middle East experience more moderate fare increases, as many travelers opt for round trips and can adjust their travel dates to avoid peak periods,” she added.
Peak of the Peak Seasons
TP Sudheesh, general manager of Deira Travel and Tourist Agency, pointed out that August 15 to early September historically marks the peak of peak seasons for inbound travel to the UAE. “There is a huge variation in supply and demand during this season. Hence, airfares go up during this period. All the carriers are not able to accommodate demand. It is also the longest travel season. For example, the Eid holiday rush is just for 3-4 days while Christmas travel peaks for one week. But this inbound travel season runs for weeks,” he said.
Sudheesh added that the main routes experiencing high demand are India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. “Similarly, there is a huge demand on the African routes also for incoming flights during the end of August,” he noted.
Drop in Airfares in September
Sudheesh mentioned that inbound airfares will gradually decline over a week or so after the peak season. “Many UAE and Arab families travel to Europe where they stay there for a long time. They will also be returning to the UAE later this month, hence, a similar trend is witnessed in this sector as well.”
Rashida Zahid expects a gradual decrease in inbound UAE airfares following the initial peak in August. “Travelers can anticipate a remarkable drop in prices from the first week of September onwards, as the back-to-school rush subsides and demand stabilizes.”
