Skyscanner names best time to book flights

The United Arab Emirates has seen a sharp increase in the number of flight ticket requests as the long weekend for the Eid Al Fitr religious holiday approaches, according to a report by online platform Skyscanner.

Compared to 2023, there has been a noticeable increase in demand among travellers to fly to Asia-Pacific countries. At the same time, more and more travellers are planning their trips well in advance: 37% of requests are for the summer months, meaning booking depth is around 90 days.

Booking windows of over 90 days account for a third of demand, with a third of travellers also booking 30 days in advance. There has been a 4% increase in the number of travellers wanting to travel to Europe, South East Asia has also seen an upturn in demand, while North America has seen a decline.

Interest in destinations such as Victoria, Marmagao and Panama City is growing exponentially, while in Europe, Bol and Pristina are on the rise. Travelling to Tokyo, Rome and Madrid is still in high demand, with a surge of interest in destinations such as New Delhi and Shanghai.

Experts in Skyscanner predict a jump in airfares for flights from the United Arab Emirates in April 2024, during the long weekend associated with the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the religious holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

Online travel portal WEGO previously reported that bookings for international flights for dates in April were up 70 per cent compared to the same period last year, but this increase is not the final one.

Already, airfares are up 23% for flights to the UK and 60% for Germany compared to 2023. At the same time, Eid al Fitr travel searches have increased by 400%.

UAE residents are expected to finalise their holiday planning in the coming days. The most popular destinations for UAE residents in March-April 2024 are India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as the Philippines. Many expats will be heading home for the holidays.

Source: Arabian Business

Follow our Telegram Chanel