India-UAE flight costs stay high; Kochi return fares up to Dh4,114
Airfares are still skyrocketing, but flights between India and the UAE gradually returning back to normalcy.
According to travel agents, fares are already up 30% to 35% on average for this time of year — traditionally a slow travel period.
“It is generally a lean season for India-UAE travel during April. But the fares are around 30 to 35 per cent higher than normal but with the fuel cost and limited capacity, Bharath Aidasani, managing partner at Pluto Travels said.
He also said flights are still operating at much higher than normal capacity, keeping prices high. On some routes, demand is more than the available seats and that is why fares are still high,” he said.
Fares that were as low as Dh300 to Dh400 a couple of months ago have surged during this period, operators said. Fares on some routes were Dh300 to Dh400 before the situation. When flights were affected above Dh2,000. They have now come down a bit but are still priced at approximately Dh1,300 to Dh1,800 one-way — roughly speaking," said Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager of Wise Fox Tourism.
Return fares, meanwhile, also stay high depending on your route and travel dates. “On some sectors return tickets are climbing up to Dh2,000 to Dh2,500 and in some instances even higher on peak dates,” he said.
Travel demand has remained strong even as prices continue to climb. “People are still travelling. Subair said: A good amount of movement is there from UAE to India and likewise from India to the UAE.
Operators also said that limited airline choices are one of the key reasons why fares are so high. “Currently, very few flights are flying and not all sectors have opened yet. That is driving prices up,” Subair said.
On the other hand, increased demand on full-service carriers including but not limited to Emirates and Etihad Airways for more reliable travel during uncertain conditions is causing many travellers to have them in mind. Aidasani said: “On certain days, you only see business or premium seats available on these airlines as the economy is sold out.
Fares are not uniform on every route. Meanwhile South Indian destinations, Kochi following suit are some of the most expensive at present. Mumbai and Delhi fares are lower at Dh1,000 to Dh1,500 on some dates. But the figure with Kochi is way higher, often exceeding Dh2,000 makeup Subair — even the return fares to Kochi can be very expensive.
“Like return fares to Kochi travel at Dh4,114 around May 1,” he said.
Travel agents cautioned that typical fares may not fall to a great extent, and could surge again as the summer season approaches. "As demand will be higher as school holidays approach, prices are set to rise again closer to mid-June," said Aidasani.
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