UAE-India Airfares Drop To 'Unusually Low Levels' After July 8, Say Travel Agents

Gulf Insider

a day ago

After a minor price hike to Dh2,500-Dh3,000 in early July (July 2-7), UAE-India airfares are defying seasonal norms by dropping to unusual lows of Dh1,450-Dh1,600 after July 8. The trend, which is rather unusual this time of year, is seeing fare drops to hyper-busy destinations, including Mumbai (Dh1,161), Bengaluru (Dh1,604), and Thiruvananthapuram (Dh1,565).
Fares to these cities in July–August 2024 averaged at Dh1,800 (Mumbai) to Dh2,700 (Bengaluru), making it unaffordable for last-minute bookings.
'From now until July 7, onward fares to India are quite high, especially flights to Tier 2 cities. There are no seats available on flights to Kochi and Kozhikode in Kerala. Interestingly, after July 8, the fares have dropped to lows we haven't seen since the summer of 2021-2022,' said Afi Ahmed, Chairman, Smart Travels.
According to Ahmed, airfares dropped to these lows for the last time immediately after the pandemic, when air travel confidence was at an all-time low amid COVID-induced travel restrictions.
'Last year, the return airfares from mid-July until August-end had touched highs of Dh3,000. Travel demand was insatiable during the summer months. That doesn't seem to be the case this year,' said Ahmed.
A considerable drop in airfares
Flights departing from Dubai International Airport (DXB) on July 2 to cities in India have reached highs of Dh 2,105 (Bengaluru) to Dh 2,205 (Thiruvananthapuram). Airfares to smaller Indian cities, including Mangalore, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kozhikode, which are predominantly serviced by budget carriers, are reaching highs of Dh2,500 to Dh3,000. Even connecting flights to destinations like metro cities like Bengaluru (Dh1,622) and Mumbai (Dh1,248) are considerably high.
After July 8, however, fares drop to Dh1,565 to Thiruvananthapuram, Dh1,161 to Mumbai, Dh1,809 to Chennai, and Dh1,163 to New Delhi. Last year, flights to these destinations were touching exorbitant highs of Dh2,800 to Dh3,000 amid surging travel demand.
Airfares from Abu Dhabi to Ahmedabad (July 8-31) is priced at an unbelievable low of Dh735.
Why is this happening?
'We are seeing a much more manageable increase in airfares to India this July,' said Ahmed. 'While the absolute lowest off-season fares are not currently available, the prices are certainly more attractive than what travellers have had to contend with in the last couple of years,' he said.
What are the reasons for this phenomenon?
'Several factors are driving this trend. First, travel confidence has been hit due to the monsoons in Kerala. People are fearing heavy rains and are planning their return end of July instead of the usual August,' he explained.
Typically, Indian expatriate families plan their trips back home during the summer, taking advantage of the two-month break from school. 'Nowadays, people are taking their trips back home several times a year instead of just two months,' said Ahmed.
Moreover, couples and bachelors usually plan their trips home during off-peak months to take advantage of cheaper airfares.
Additionally, an increasing number of Indian expatriates are opting to travel to other holiday destinations during the summer months instead of taking diaspora trips.
Sapna Aidasani, Head of Marketing at Pluto Travels, said, 'People are no longer travelling for one to two months at a stretch, but rather for shorter durations of two to ten days. Travellers are now returning sooner.'
She said the trend has changed towards shorter trips, typically a week, ten days, or fifteen days. 'On return, they break their holiday again and are opting for destinations closer to the UAE, such as Azerbaijan or Schengen nations (if visa allows). Africa is also gaining popularity. Many residents have adjusted their travel plans and are now considering destinations beyond India,' Sapna added.
Shorter trips home
Even for trips to India, the duration is often limited to ten to fifteen days, possibly due to the influence of the monsoon season.
'With corporate leaves rarely exceeding twenty days, and employees preferring to break up their travel into two to three trips a year, Dubai residents generally prefer not to stay away from home for extended periods, usually returning by the first week of August. They then plan their subsequent trips during the winter or Diwali, often breaking their summer travel into two shorter holidays,' she said.
Increase in flights
The moderation in airfare prices can also be attributed to an increase in the number of flights operating between the UAE and India. Several airlines, particularly budget carriers IndiGo and Akasa, have introduced new routes and increased their flight frequencies, particularly from Abu Dhabi, providing more options for passengers and helping to stabilise prices.
Travellers are still advised to book their flights as early as possible to secure the best available fares, as prices may fluctuate depending on demand and availability. The current trend, however, suggests a less financially straining summer for those planning to visit India from the UAE.
Source Gulf News