Travel agents attribute the fare drop to a temporary slowdown following the early summer travel rush.
UAE residents planning trips to India this month could save hundreds of dirhams, with return airfares on several routes falling by nearly 20 to 30 per cent compared with recent weeks, according to travel agents and a Khaleej Times fare analysis.
While flights to several destinations in north and west India have dropped to just above Dh1,000 for return journeys, fares to south Indian cities remain relatively higher. Travel agents said the lower prices are expected to last only for a short period in July, with ticket costs likely to rise again for August travel.
Taha Siddique, owner of Siddique Travel in Mangaluru, said airfares to the coastal Karnataka city have also declined in recent weeks.
Taha Siddique, owner of Siddique Travel in Mangaluru, said fares to the coastal Karnataka city have also eased in recent weeks.
“We have seen prices come down by around 20 per cent, although it depends on the departure airport. Flights from Abu Dhabi are generally cheaper than Dubai at the moment. We are also seeing lower fares to cities such as Hyderabad and Chennai this month,” he said.
However, he advised travellers planning August trips to book early, as fares have already started climbing.
Subair Thekepurathvalappil, manager at Wisefox Travel and Tourism, said the biggest savings are currently available on routes to north and west India.
“We are seeing lower fares to cities like Delhi and Ahmedabad. Even Mumbai and Pune are much cheaper than many south Indian destinations such as Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. For a seven- to 10-day trip in July, return tickets can start from around Dh1,080,” he said.
A Khaleej Times fare check on Bookings.com for return flights between July 21 and July 31 showed notable differences in ticket prices across destinations.
Among the lowest fares were:
- Ahmedabad: From Dh1,029
- New Delhi: From Dh1,041
- Mumbai: From Dh1,074
- Pune: From Dh1,114
- Bengaluru: From Dh1,389
- Kozhikode: From Dh1,578
- Mangaluru: From Dh1,928
The analysis indicates that travellers heading to north and west India are currently finding some of the most affordable fares, while popular destinations in Kerala and coastal Karnataka remain several hundred dirhams more expensive despite the recent decline.
A previous Khaleej Times fare check on June 14 for the same travel dates showed ticket prices were around 20 to 30 per cent higher, suggesting that airfares have dropped significantly since then.
Travel agents said the lower prices are largely the result of a temporary slowdown after the early summer travel rush. They expect fares to rise again in August as more families travel before schools reopen, increasing demand on India-bound routes.
