‘The charges are extremely high at the moment,’ said one travel agent, while another confirmed that prices for these in-demand seats are rising daily.
Special Charter Flights to Repatriate Stranded Tourists from UAE
Special charter flights are being arranged from UAE airports to help stranded tourists return to India after regional airspace restrictions disrupted hundreds of flights, leaving thousands of travelers without seats.
Travel agents noted that the temporary airspace closure caused widespread cancellations, affecting both tourists visiting the UAE and transit passengers. With regular flights operating at limited capacity, charter operators have stepped in to offer alternative travel options.
Subair Thekepurathvalappil, Senior Manager at Wisefox Travels, said travel agencies have been assisting passengers by connecting them with operators arranging charter flights from airports including Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Charter Flights Provide Relief to Stranded UAE Tourists Amid Flight Disruptions
Following regional airspace closures that led to hundreds of flight cancellations, charter services from UAE airports are helping tourists return to India. Travel agencies have been coordinating with operators to secure seats on flights from airports including Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
High Demand and Rising Fares
Travel agents report that seats on charter flights currently start around Dh2,500, depending on the route and availability. Some private charter jets are advertised on social media at around Dh7,000 per passenger. The surge in demand is driven by passengers who urgently need to travel and cannot wait for regular flights to resume.
“Operators are running only limited flights at the moment, and connectivity is not available to all cities,” said Bharath Aidasani, a travel agent. Safeer Mohammed, General Manager of Smart Travels, noted: “Demand for chartered flights has increased after the airspace closure. Ticket prices currently start at Dh2,500 per person one way to India. We have flights from Fujairah operating to multiple Indian cities.”
Mohammed added that fares are expected to drop as more flights resume and the backlog clears in the coming days, particularly before Eid.
Passenger Experiences
For many stranded tourists, charter flights have offered much-needed relief. Rajiv M, a tourist from Karnataka, said: “It was stressful at first because we did not know when flights would resume, but travel agents helped with updates and options. We are thankful for the arrangements that are helping people return home.”
Anita Sharma, who had visited the UAE for a family function, shared a similar experience: “My return flight was cancelled, and we had to extend our stay. It has been difficult, but the availability of charter flights is a relief.”
Price Surge and Advice
Noushad Hassan, MD of Alhind Business Center, highlighted the rapid price increases: “Tickets that were selling for Dh1,700 are now being sold for Dh3,000 due to extremely high demand. Prices are climbing daily because passengers are willing to pay for immediate travel.”
He advised passengers not to panic and to travel only if necessary. “The UAE remains extremely safe. Only those who need to leave urgently should book now; others can wait until airspace fully reopens and prices normalize.”
