Abu Dhabi: As the UAE prepares for the reopening of schools in just two weeks, airfares to the country have surged significantly, particularly from key locations like Kerala.
Starting from the 15th of this month, direct flights from Kerala to the UAE are now priced at over AED 1,500. Even flights with multiple layovers, which can take between 8 to 12 hours, are costing upwards of AED 1,000. For many Malayali workers, this translates to spending nearly 15 days’ worth of salary on a single ticket.
This spike in airfares is making it increasingly challenging for expatriates who traveled home with their families during the summer break to return to the UAE. A family of four now faces an expense of over AED 6,000 just to make the journey back from Kerala. Many are left with no choice but to use credit cards or take out loans to cover the cost of these essential return flights.
These elevated prices are being seen on economy airlines like Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet, while international carriers are charging even higher fares. For example, a ticket on Emirates from Kochi to Dubai on the 15th is priced at AED 5,020, meaning a family of four would have to spend AED 20,080 to fly with the airline.
Airfares for flights from the UAE to various countries were similarly increased at the start of the summer holidays. According to experts, ticket prices are likely to decrease only by the end of September.
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