Ramadan offers take flight as airlines seek to boost load factor

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With the air travel industry taking a hit from the global slowdown, airlines in the Middle East have unveiled discount fares and packages to boost load factor during the Ramadan period.

"Overall, air traffic fell 7.1 per cent in June, easing from 9.2 per cent decline in May," according to the International Air Transport Association, or Iata.

To prevent the numbers from falling any further, most airlines, such as EmiratesEmirates, EtihadEtihad and Air ArabiaAir Arabia, are not only offering low fares but also affordable holiday package deals during the period.

EmiratesEmirates, for instance, is offering the UAE residents an opportunity to fly for less with fares starting from as little as Dh955 for a return economy-class ticket, inclusive of taxes.

The airline said the discounted fares, which are valid for booking and outbound travel on or before September 15, includes a total of 17 destinations such as Bahrain, Karachi, Amman, Cairo, Mumbai, Damascus, Delhi, Istanbul, Beirut, Kuala Lumpur, Larnaca, Doha, Kuwait, Muscat, Athens, Casablanca and Islamabad.

"EmiratesEmirates has always proactively sought to provide our UAE-based customers with competitive fares across our wide network of destinations and our Ramadan offer is a reflection of this commitment," said Khalid Bel Jalfah, EmiratesEmirates' Vice-President, Commercial Operations UAE, in a statement.

Etihad AirwaysEtihad Airways on the other hand, has launched "World Deals" for August and September, lasting up to the end of Ramadan period, through its Holidays division. This includes low airfares to various destinations in the United States, Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, China, South Africa, Germany, Jordan, Beirut among others.

As a part of EtihadEtihad's Ramadan deals, a three-night package for Jordan, for instance, starts at Dh1,935 with a choice of three- to five-star hotels being offered.

Tony Gauci, Head of Direct Sales, Etihad AirwaysEtihad Airways, told Emirates Business: "Etihad Holidays is pleased to offer its customers a number of fantastic holiday packages to destinations right across the Etihad AirwaysEtihad Airways flight network. Ramadan is a very special time for friends and families to come together and we are sure that this year's deals have something for everyone."

Similarly, Sharjah-based budget carrier, Air ArabiaAir Arabia, is offering attractive Ramadan deals through its Holidays division, making sure to remain in the race for load factors in a challenging travel environment.

Valid until the end of September, Air ArabiaAir Arabia's discounted deals include airfare-hotels packages across regions. For instance, while a four-night package to Turkey costs as low as Dh1,710, a three-night package to Kathmandu starts at Dh1,910.

The airline's deals which offers a choice of three- to five-star hotels, packed with other features, includes other destinations such as Beirut, Jordan, Cairo, Kenya, Goa and so on.

Even international carriers such as British Airways, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines are making the most of the Ramadan period. While Lufthansa said it does not have any specific Ramadan promotions running, it is currently offering a fare starting at Dh1,590 to Europe, to avail of which, tickets must be issued by August 31.

The United Kingdom flagship carrier, British Airways, meanwhile, said yesterday it would reduce its World Traveller (economy) airfares from the UAE to popular destinations in Europe and North America during the Ramadan period. As a part of the deal, while BA's return economy flights from the UAE to London Heathrow start from Dh1,995, fares to other major European destinations are available from Dh2,495. And ticket prices to the US and Canada start from Dh3,345 and Dh3,275 respectively, the carrier said, adding that all prices "include taxes, fees and service charges".

To avail of this offer, tickets should be purchased between August 20 and September 3, for travel up to March 31, 2010, said BA.

"We are confident that these great value fares will attract a high proportion of people looking to take or break or visit family and friends abroad," said Paolo De Renzis, British Airways' Area Commercial Manager, Middle East.

Overall, the Middle Eastern carriers such as EmiratesEmirates, Etihad AirwaysEtihad Airways and Qatar Airways reduced prices on an average between 20 and 30 per cent in the summer months this year to fill seats in order to combat the declining air traffic volumes.

By Shweta Jain

© Emirates Business 24/7 2009