Mideast conflict hits travel plans of UAE residents

Airfares to US, Germany, Kenya, and India spike after airlines reroute around Iran and Israel

- BY JUSTIN VARGHESE

If you’re wondering why your planned summer getaway is suddenly costing a lot more — blame it on the skies.

Flight ticket prices from the UAE to several top destinations have jumped sharply since June 13, when escalating tensions between Iran and Israel forced airlines to reroute away from restricted airspace.

Whether you're flying home to Mumbai, planning a safari in Nairobi, or heading to New York for a family holiday, chances are your airfare has gone up — by quite a bit.

India flights get costly

A quick look at fare trackers like Skyscanner and Google Flights shows that flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to many parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America are now 15 per cent to 60 per cent more expensive than they were just days ago.

For many Indian expats in the UAE, flying home in the summer is a yearly ritual. But this year, it’s coming at a steeper price.