The upcoming Eid break later this month is expected to be one of the most expensive summer travel periods in years.
Dubai: UAE residents planning overseas trips for the Eid Al Adha break later this month are facing one of the most expensive summer travel periods in years, as rising jet fuel prices drive higher airfares, tighter seat availability, and increased scheduling pressure across airlines globally.
The disruption comes as outbound travel demand accelerates ahead of the holiday period in the last week of May and the wider summer vacation season. Airlines worldwide are facing a sharp rise in jet fuel prices amid geopolitical tensions and instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy and aviation fuel flows.
Jet fuel prices have reportedly climbed from roughly $85–$90 per barrel to as high as $150–$200, according to several market indicators. The increase has shaken an industry where fuel is already one of the largest operating costs for airlines.
Airlines begin cutting flights
The impact is now spreading rapidly across global airline networks. Germany’s Lufthansa is removing around 20,000 short-haul flights through October. Lufthansa Netherlands-based KLM has canceled 160 European flights in a single month, while Sweden’s SAS scrapped about 1,000 flights in April due to elevated oil and jet fuel prices. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Thai AirAsia said it will reduce seat capacity by 30% between May and June. AirAsia Meanwhile, several carriers—including Air Canada and US airline JetBlue—have suspended earnings guidance, citing volatility in fuel markets. Air Canada JetBlue
For UAE travellers, the immediate impact is being felt in rising airfares on major outbound routes—particularly to Europe, India, and North America—where demand remains strong ahead of the summer travel season.
Europe routes under pressure
Pressure is particularly strong on Europe-bound travel, where aviation markets remain exposed to fuel supply constraints due to heavy reliance on imported jet fuel linked to Gulf shipping routes.
International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol warned last month that Europe could have “maybe six weeks or so of jet fuel left” if supply disruptions persist, underscoring growing concerns about aviation fuel availability ahead of the peak summer travel season.
That risk is pushing airlines worldwide to prioritise their most profitable and strategically important routes ahead of the summer season.
Flights to major hubs such as London, Paris, and Frankfurt are expected to remain relatively resilient, though at significantly higher fares. In contrast, smaller European cities and lower-frequency leisure routes may face tighter seat availability and reduced schedule flexibility as airlines consolidate operations.
Higher fares and added charges
Bloomberg reported that several global carriers are increasingly concentrating aircraft deployment on high-demand corridors, major international hubs, and premium long-haul routes.
At the same time, some airlines are rerouting flights through longer alternative air corridors to avoid conflict-sensitive areas. This is raising operating costs by increasing fuel consumption, flight durations, and crew utilisation.
Those pressures are now feeding directly into passenger pricing. The chief executive of major US carrier United Airlines, Scott Kirby, indicated that fares may need to rise significantly to offset rising fuel costs.
He said ticket prices could increase “by as much as 15% to 20%,” reflecting the additional burden on airlines from sustained volatility in jet fuel markets and higher operating expenses.
Airlines are also increasingly relying on ancillary charges to protect profitability. Reuters reported that American Airlines raised baggage fees by up to $150 for third checked bags, while Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines also increased luggage charges in the US.
For UAE travellers, this means holiday budgets could come under pressure beyond headline airfare prices alone, with added costs for baggage and other ancillary services contributing to overall trip expenses.
What UAE travellers should expect
The operating environment is also becoming less predictable. Airlines globally are adjusting schedules more aggressively to manage fuel exposure, increasing the likelihood of flight consolidations, timing changes, longer layovers, and reduced availability on preferred departure dates.
Travellers booking later in May could face particularly limited options on peak Eid and summer routes. Industry analysts suggest there is unlikely to be rapid relief even if geopolitical tensions ease in the near term.
The aviation market is now dealing not only with higher crude prices, but also refinery bottlenecks, constrained jet fuel supply, and disrupted logistics networks. Bloomberg reported that airlines are increasingly planning around potential fuel scarcity rather than treating the situation as short-term volatility.
That shift could keep fares elevated well into the summer season, particularly on long-haul, multi-city, and multi-stop international routes popular with UAE residents. For travellers planning Eid Al Adha getaways, earlier bookings, flexible itineraries, and close monitoring of airline schedule changes may become increasingly important in the weeks ahead.
The broader challenge for passengers is that the global aviation industry is heading into the summer of 2026 with fewer operational buffers than in previous years, even as demand for international travel remains exceptionally strong.
