UAE travellers take to charting flights to bear soaring airline fares

UAE travellers take to charting flights to bear soaring airline fares

Dubai: Soaring airfares proving a bother? Then charter a jet. UAE-based Indian expats are taking to charter flights to fly back as airfares surge on commercial airlines. “There are some charter flights operating to South Indian destinations and they are all full,” said Raheesh Babu, General Manager at Musafir.com, a travel portal. If a commercial flight is charging around Dh2,800 to fly to an Indian destination, then charter will be Dh700-Dh800 cheaper per person. Charter flights to Bengaluru, Kochi, and Mumbai cost between $45,000-$80,000 (Dh165,000-Dh294,000), depending on the type of aircraft. According to the Musafir.com official, flight capacities on UAE-India air routes are close to pre-pandemic level. “This time everyone wants to go back to their home country because they could not do so the last two years – people also not bothered about the rising Covid cases.” The executive believes that UAE’s air travel market could be at 80-85 per cent of 2019 levels by the end of this year. Fares, currently up 20-25 per cent across all sectors, will see a dip in September before rising again during peak winter season. “There are so many events happening in UAE and despite the inflation and fare hikes, people are