Dubai: More airlines have slashed their airfares, and this time the special rates are targeted at UAE flyers who plan to travel to the Philippines, India and other Asian destinations in time for the Christmas or Diwali season.
The special fares, most of them priced below Dh1,000 for return flights, are up for grabs for only a very limited period but they’re valid for trips either until the end of this year or early 2018, depending on the carrier.
With the peak summer travel period already over, airlines are lowering the cost of airfares in a bid to stimulate demand. Only more than a week ago, flydubai announced it has reduced its ticket prices across a number of routes.
Among the latest to cut prices, Cebu Pacific is giving travellers a chance to book a Dubai to Manila flight for only Dh469, with the return flight costing as low as 5,999 pesos (Dh434), enabling travellers to save more than half the regular ticket cost. Flyers have until September 27 to secure a seat and the fare is valid for trips starting from November 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.
“The Middle East fares are in time for the peak season when our Filipinos based in the region come home to the Philippines. Hence, we encourage people to book flights early to avail of great value fares,” Charo Logarta lagamon, director for corporate communications at Cebu Pacific, told Gulf News.
The airline is also offering passengers an extra 25 kilograms free, provided they pre-purchase 40 kilograms of baggage allowance.
Emirates Airlines has also unveiled budget-friendly fares of less than Dh2,600 for destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia. The offer expires in 14 days and is valid for travel between September 25, 2017 and March 31, 2018.
Air Arabia is likewise offering more price-busting return fares ranging between Dh599 and Dh899 for trips to a number of Indian destinations. The cheapest seats can be had are for flights to Kochi/ Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram at Dh599, followed by Delhi/ Mumbai at Dh699 and Bangalore and Chennai at Dh799.
For flights to Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Goa/ Hyderabad, Jaipur and Nagpur, seats are up for grabs for Dh899.
To avail themselves of the money-saving deals, flyers have to book from September 24 to September 28, 2017 and fly until December 10, 2017.
Travel tends to slow down at this time of year, when most residents have returned to the UAE after a long summer break.
“This is the time of year when UAE residents have gone back from their annual vacation,” said Premjit BAngara, general manager for travel at Sharaf Travel Services. “Bookings, however, usually pick up around mid-November to December.”
