KUWAIT CITY, Feb 9: The air transport market witnessed a remarkable increase in demand for tickets to various countries after the issuance of a decision to extend the mid-year break of schools from Feb 13 to March 5, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting sources from the tourism and travel sector. Sources told the daily that the demand for tickets to Cairo, Turkey and Dubai has increased, especially among teachers.

Sources disclosed the above-mentioned decision caused confusion regarding the previous reservations; as travel agencies started receiving calls from many travelers requesting for the amendment of their reservations. Sources affirmed ticket prices are still reasonable, but there is extreme pressure in terms of the return tickets as the number of available seats is very limited. Sources said ticket prices are expected to increase remarkably on March 3, 4 and 5 when the return tickets for certain destinations, particularly Cairo, will reach KD 300.

Sources revealed some airlines have submitted a request to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to allow them to schedule additional flights during the days before the second semester starts in order to accommodate the expected volume of passengers returning to the country. Also, sources praised the intention of agencies operating at Kuwait International Airport to cancel the PCR test and corona vaccine booster dose requirements for those entering the country. Sources pointed out these requirements are additional burdens for families who spend their vacation abroad, indicating the agencies will settle for requiring arriving passengers to undergo PCR test once they are in the country rather than obligating them to obtain negative PCR test result 72 hours prior to arrival.