KUWAIT CITY, March 23: As the Eid Al-Fitr holiday is fast approaching, the air transport sector is witnessing a remarkable increase in airfare; with the cost of flights to nearby destinations now higher than usual. This is due to the increased demand for travel during the Eid holiday, since many citizens and expatriates want to take advantage of the short vacation to spend the holiday abroad to visit family and relatives or to enjoy the touristic atmosphere. With this seasonal pattern of rising airfare, travel and tourism experts confirmed to the newspaper that early planning is essential for travelers to secure reasonable prices; because waiting until the last few days before the travel date could limit options and result in costs much higher than they were a few weeks ago. General Manager of Alam Al-Salehiya Tourism and Travel Company Ayman Zandah explained that the rise in airfare during the holiday and vacation seasons is a normal and recurring phenomenon, as it is subject to supply and demand.

He pointed out that travelers who book early enjoy discounted and attractive prices, while those who book at the last minute face higher costs due to limited availability. He said the most popular destinations during the Eid holiday include Cairo, which experiences crowding due to the Egyptian community’s desire to spend the holiday in their home country, coinciding with the improved weather. He added that tourist destinations such as Dubai, Beirut, Istanbul, London, and Rome are witnessing an influx of holiday travelers. He disclosed that ticket prices three weeks before Eid were much lower, with return tickets ranging from KD130 to KD190, depending on the destination.

He affirmed that the few days before the holiday witnessed significant increases, with ticket prices to London reaching KD450, to Cairo ranging from KD280 to KD300, to Istanbul between KD250 and KD300, and to Dubai ranging between KD130 and KD140. He revealed Dubai is also witnessing a surge in demand, with approximately 13 flights operating daily to the city; reflecting the high demand for this destination, alongside European destinations that are attracting increasing numbers of travelers during this period. He also emphasized that travel during holidays and vacations remains consistently active, indicating that early booking remains the best option to avoid high prices; since prices vary significantly depending on the timing of the booking and the proximity of the travel date.

On the other hand, tourism expert Kamal Kabsha said the limited number of seats before the holiday date, compared to the increased demand during peak times, leads to an automatic increase in ticket prices as the holiday date approaches. “This is something travelers notice annually during holidays and tourist seasons,” he added. He stated that some destinations are experiencing high demand; particularly in cities that combine tourism, shopping and entertainment services, leading to flight seats filling up quickly and ticket prices gradually rising.

By Mohammed Al-Enezi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff