Some residents postpone trips as airfares skyrocket

A vacation now would cost him three months’ salary, says expat

- SM Ayaz Zakir

For Maria D, a Filipina residing in Al Muraqqabat, summer vacation this year was supposed to be a long-awaited reunion with her extended family in the Philippines. But as travel expenses have soared, she is now considering cancelling the trip.

“The air tickets for me, my husband and two children exceed Dh16,000, and that’s just for the round trip,” said Maria, who works as a personnel assistant in Business Bay. “Then you add baggage costs, gifts for relatives, clothes shopping, and domestic travel; it’s way beyond my budget.”

Every summer, Maria travels with her husband and two children. She said this year the total cost has increased to nearly Dh30,000. “Even after we land, we have to pay for taxis or private vans to visit family members in different towns. Food costs, family dinners, small contributions to birthday parties, all of it adds up.”