Pack your bags, UAE airfares poised to ‘crash’ in September

AFTER PEAK SUMMER HIGHS, A DROP IN FARES COMES AS A WELCOME RESPITE

- BY DHANUSHA GOKULAN

As the last of the summer holidaymakers and returning residents touch down in the UAE, travel agents report a significant drop in airfares for travel after August 30.

Industry experts and travel agents confirm that with school holidays over and peak travel demand subsiding, September is shaping up to be a perfect “shoulder season” for a spontaneous, budget-friendly getaway. Shoulder season refers to the period between a destination’s high and low tourist seasons.

The mass return of families for the new academic year creates a natural lull in outbound travel, leading airlines to slash prices to fill seats. The end of the busy July and August travel period, which saw hundreds of thousands of residents depart the country, has given way to this natural dip in demand.

20-30% fall in airfares

For savvy travellers without children, who are not tied to the academic calendar, this period offers an unprecedented opportunity to secure a ‘steal’ on international flights.