Airfares in the UAE have seen a significant increase of 20% as the Eid Al Fitr holidays coincide with school spring breaks. This surge in airfares comes as travel experts note a marked rise in holiday bookings during this festive period, which is expected to peak on March 31 this year, while schools will begin their spring break on March 18.

Raheesh Babu, COO of musafir.com, highlighted that there has been a remarkable 30% increase in holiday bookings during the Eid and Spring Break timeframe. He noted a substantial uptick in outbound travel, with families favoring popular destinations such as Switzerland, Italy, and various Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Additionally, African nations like South Africa and Kenya, along with CIS countries such as Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, are also drawing interest.

Babu pointed out that travel fares have risen approximately 15-20% compared to the previous month, largely driven by increased demand due to last-minute bookings. He further indicated a growing trend among residents inviting family and friends to celebrate Eid, leading to a 25% rise in holiday bookings this month alone.

With the heightened demand, multiple airlines, both local and international, are ramping up their flight schedules. Reena Philip, General Manager Operations at Airtravel Enterprises and Tourism LLC, concurred with the trend, stating that airfares have surged by 20-30% this year during the overlapping Eid and school vacations. She explained that while airfares typically increase during either school holidays or Eid, the simultaneous occurrence has resulted in an even steeper rise.

Philip mentioned that many people tend to travel back to their home countries during this festive period, contributing to the growing number of holiday travel inquiries, particularly for Europe. However, she noted challenges, such as the lack of Schengen visas for many travelers, as appointments for visa applications remain scarce.

In terms of business travel, Philip observed a slowdown of about 30% due to the Ramadan season, but she anticipates a rebound in the third week as the fasting month draws to a close. Meanwhile, destinations like Japan continue to thrive amidst the ongoing Expo, which runs until March 16. Lakshmii Annand, Managing Director of TravelzMind, indicated that although Saudi Arabia’s travel has been affected by Ramadan-related visa pauses, China is performing well for business travel.

As the travel landscape evolves, it is clear that the combination of Eid Al Fitr and school holidays is significantly influencing airfare trends and holiday booking dynamics in the UAE.