Holidays hit air pockets
abu dhabi — A combination of Eid Al Adha holidays, Kerala’s Onam festival and the reopening of UAE schools in the second week of September has made the travel plans of several Indian expats more expensive. Airline ticket prices to some cities in India — particularly Kerala — have skyrocketed by up to 200 per cent.
The increase is attributed to Eid Al Adha, which falls on September 1, and Kerala’s Onam festival on September 4. Additionally, most of the Indian schools in the UAE will reopen on September 10.
Al Ain Oasis Holidays’ travel consultant Rafeeq TP said airfares to all sectors remain high to Kerala. “The return tickets from Kerala sectors are very high as schools reopen here. There is no respite even in the second week of September. All flights are sold out or closing fast,” he said.
Such is the demand that Air India Express has introduced additional flights, according to a travel consultant.
Razi Koya from Infinity Travel said this year there is an “unprecedented rush of travellers”. “This Eid rush is a norm every year as it is the peak season for travelling. But this year, the rush is unprecedented because Eid, Onam and school-reopening are all coinciding,” said Koya.
The worst affected are expats who have genuine emergencies. Sudha Ammal, a low-income worker in Abu Dhabi, said her mother is hospitalised in a critical condition in Thiruvananthapuram.
“This is an emergency but I can’t afford to leave now. I can tend to my mother only after September 20 or so,” Sudha said.
abu dhabi — Prices of airline tickets to major Indian cities are rocketing with the approaching festival days, leaving several expats’ holiday plans in limbo.
The increase is attributed to Eid Al Adha, which falls on September 1, and Kerala’s Onam festival on September 4. Additionally, most of the Indian schools in the UAE will reopen on September 10.
Factor this: For a family of four, Etihad Airways round-trip tickets from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram — booked between August 30 and September 9 — will cost a whopping Dh19,576 (Rs341,340). The breakup is Dh9,116 ‘economy flexible rate’ for departure and Dh10,460 for return. The return ticket, which was pegged at Dh2,000 until last week, has hit Dh4,000 or more, per person. But despite the high rates, the tickets are selling out fast.
Al Ain Oasis Holidays’ travel consultant Rafeeq TP said the lowest fares to all sectors remain high to Kerala. “The return tickets from Kerala sectors are very high as schools reopen here. There is not much difference even in the second week of September. All flights are sold out or closing fast,” he said.
Budget airline Air India Express’ tickets will also come at a minimum price of Dh1,400, one way, per person. That means for a family of four, you have to fork out Dh5,600, for one way. A return ticket to Kerala means you are poorer by over Dh11,000.
An Air India Express travel consultant said the demand is high and the airline has introduced additional flights. “Tickets are available but the government holidays for Eid Al Adha will make it dearer. August 31 is a holiday and schools reopen on September 10. These days and anything in between will be priced high,” he said.
“A family of four will save up to Dh1,000 or more if they had booked four to six months in advance.”
Razi Koya, business development manager of Infinity Travel, said this year there is an unprecedented rush of travellers. “This year, the rush is unprecedented because Eid, Onam and school-reopening are all coinciding,” said Koya. According to him, Kerala and Hyderabad are the two sectors that see high demand during Eid. “Most of the flights are fully booked, and seats are open in the ‘Economy Flexible’, but with at least 30 to 40 per cent higher rates.
“Inbound flights to Abu Dhabi from India are much more expensive than the outbound flights as families who travelled to India at the start of the summer are flying back in the first week of September. For instance, a one-way flight from Kerala to Abu Dhabi is in the range of Dh3,500 and above, and the same from sectors like Delhi and Mumbai hovers around Dh2,500 and Dh2,700. Outbound flights to these destinations are comparatively cheaper,” said Koya.
‘Book early and benefit’
Citing an example, a travel consultant said people should look for multiple airlines, and more importantly, book early.
“An Air India Express ticket from Abu Dhabi to Mangalore on August 30 booked in March came for Dh725 and September 16 return in Jet Airways for Dh650. The round trip will be Dh1,375, but if you book now, it will be more than Dh2,000. You save more than Dh650 by booking earlier,” he said.
There are meticulous planners like the Thajudheen family. “We are a family of six members with four children. So we book well in advance and avoid the hefty rates. Planning always helps. We book as and when the school holidays are announced. We save up to fares of one or two tickets,” said Abu Dhabi-based homemaker Shereefa Thajudheen. The family left for Kozhikode in June and will be back before school reopens.
The return tickets from Kerala sectors are very high as schools reopen here. All flights are sold out or closing fast.” Rafeeq TP, consultant, Al Ain Oasis Holidays
August 31 is a holiday and school reopens on September 10. These days and anything in between will be priced high.” Travel consultant, Air India Express
This year, the rush is unprecedented because Eid, Onam and school-reopening are all coinciding.” Razi Koya, manager, Infinity Travel
We are a family of six members with four children. So we book well in advance and avoid the hefty rates.” Shereefa Thajudheen, homemaker