India-UAE airfare high even after the school holidays end

The summer holidays in the UAE have ended, and educational institutions have commenced the new academic year. However, the airfare between India and the Emirates continues to remain high, as suggested by expats and agents.

As per a Khaleej Times report, many Indian families are waiting back home for the ticket prices to drop so that they can return to the Emirates. While the airlines have ramped up flight capacities following the COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, ticket prices continue to maintain vacation prices. The report also mentioned that the passage between Mumbai and Dubai was the busiest in the world in terms of airline seats, as suggested by a recent survey.

For most institutions, summer vacations in the UAE commenced from the fag end of June and ended on August 27. Several Indian families residing in the UAE flew back home during the vacation and are yet to return. Some agents have also attributed the prolonged high prices to the ongoing Asia Cup being hosted in the Emirates. Therefore, there’s a huge influx of passengers from South Asian countries to the UAE for the continent’s biggest ICC event.


Flight prices were particularly unaffordable for the common public waiting to arrive in the UAE from the Indian state of Kerala. Since the state is celebrating Onam, the annual harvest festival, prices are expected to remain high until the second week of September. The cheapest one-way flight, costing AED 1,146 (Rs.25,000 approx.), between India and the UAE was from Mumbai.

Airfares from other international airports in India are as follows:

• Delhi – AED 1,203
• Bangalore – AED 1,277
• Chennai – AED 1,881
• Kannur – AED 1,701
• Kochi – AED 1,503

The Khaleej Times report suggests that the off-season tickets from India to the UAE are usually priced from AED 200 to AED 300. However, the average prices till the end of September are expected to be around AED 700.