Airfares between the UAE and London look set to remain high for the rest of the summer, with direct flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to London averaging more than Dh4,000.
But travellers who can bide their time and fly later in the year will be able to take advantage of lower average fares. October is the cheapest month for flights to the UK capital from the UAE, according to data from Skyscanner shared exclusively with The National.
“October is currently showing the best-value deals for direct economy return flights from the UAE to London with prices starting from £568 [$669],” a spokesperson from the online travel agency said.
And travellers willing to fly indirect can find even better deals, with one-stop economy return fares from the UAE in October starting at £219.
In August, the cheapest direct flights from Dubai to London available are with British Airways, where prices start at Dh3,350. Fares on the same route start at Dh4,425 with Emirates. From Abu Dhabi, travellers will have to pay more than Dh6,000 to fly non-stop with Etihad Airways.
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Travellers to the UK this summer should brace themselves for disruptions and changes to flight schedules. Reuters -
Officials at Heathrow Airport have announced a cap on flights over the summer. Photo: Jonathon Heyward / Twitter -
The cap on flights is aimed at cutting huge queues. AP -
Airlines were told to stop selling tickets to the west London airport. AP -
Uncollected suitcases pile up at Heathrow's Terminal Three baggage reclaim, as British Airways axed another 10,300 short-haul flights up to the end of October. AFP -
Lines of passenger luggage lie arranged outside Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport. Reuters
Rising airfares on the route are a culmination of passenger demand, fuel costs, pandemic-related operational issues and recently imposed passenger restrictions at Heathrow Airport, which limited capacity for airlines.
To avoid high summer flight prices, some travellers are opting to fly indirect to the UK. This strategy can save passengers up to 26 per cent, according to Skyscanner's data. Cheaper fares are available on one-stop routes to several European airports, including Dublin, Istanbul, Paris and Zurich.
Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner's destination and trends expert, said: “Current pricing is reflecting the return of travel demand and in the short term we expect to see fluctuations as we return to seasonal norms and head closer to the peak summer travel period.”
Summer airfare deals to Oman, Greece and Pakistan
Despite the rising fares, there are still deals to be found on flights.
“Prices aren’t rising on every flight route, nor at the same rate. There are still deals to be found for travellers who can be flexible on their dates, time of travel, and airports, and who are open to exploring less popular destinations.”
To find the best-value fares, those planning a trip should “compare and contrast dates, providers, departure airports and destinations”, said Lindsay.
“Our data shows those who are flexible on both dates and locations will unlock the best-value deals available.”
Travellers hoping to book a last-minute summer getaway before the end of the month can find low-cost airfares on several routes from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Skyscanner’s "Everywhere" search function shows that the cheapest destination for travel from Abu Dhabi in August is Oman, with direct return fares from Dh214. The sultanate enjoys Khareef season until late September, making summer one of the best times to visit southern Oman. Farther afield, non-stop flights to Armenia, Greece, Albania, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Jordan are available in August for under Dh1,000.
From Dubai, holidaymakers can fly to Oman, Pakistan and Kuwait, with fares starting at less than Dh1,000. European destinations are also within reach this August, with return flights under Dh1,500 from Dubai to Romania, Turkey, Greece and Hungary.
How to holiday in Africa like Lewis Hamilton — in pictures
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Lewis Hamilton with a baby giraffe at Kenya's Reteti sanctuary. All photos: Instagram / lewishamilton -
Owned by the Samburu community, the sanctuary predominantly takes in orphaned and abandoned elephant calves. -
Towering sand dunes in the Namib desert. -
Hamilton started his trip in Namibia. -
A sideways landing in a hot air balloon was one of the holiday's more 'surreal' experiences. -
Hamilton on his gorilla trekking trip. -
The sporting star watching elephants from a hide in Kenya. -
Verdant fields in Rwanda. -
Hamilton on a safari. -
Hamilton has described his holiday in Africa as 'life-changing'. -
Hamilton interacted with local tribes in Kenya. -
'We were welcomed to each beautiful place we visited,' Hamilton wrote of his travels across Namibia, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. -
Hamilton spent time with the Pokot people in Kenya. -
The trip was extremely personal for Hamilton, who said he was finally tracing his roots through Africa. His father has West Indian ancestry. -
Capturing the continent's stunning topography.
