PHOTO
13 August 2016
Doha - Air fares to Doha from various destinations abroad have shot up as the long summer holidays end by the third week of next month.
Expatriate families vacationing back home will start returning to Qatar by mid-September, with schools set to open on September 18 after the summer break.
Several citizens and residents holidaying abroad will also be back before Eid Al Adha holidays that fall in the second week of September.
According to travel industry sources, flights from Colombo, Cairo, London and the Indian cities of Chennai, Mumbai and Kozhikode would cost 75 percent to 100 percent more during mid-September compared to the off-peak fares.
Average one-way ticket fare from Sri Lankan capital Colombo to Doha would be between QR1,500 and QR3,000, from Cairo between QR1,800 and QR2,240, from Kozhikode (in the southern Indian state of Kerala) between QR2,900 and QR3,300 and from London above QR1,800.
Most flights, including budget airlines from most south Asian destinations, are fully booked between September 14 and 17.
The peak season this year started around June 25 and ends by September 20, with a summer break of about three months. Usually the peak season ends by end of August or the first week of September.
However, the peak season for Nepalese expatriates returning home is from the first week of October to the end of November and for Filipinos, December and January.
Most expatriate families prefer to spend summer vacation back home as it coincides with the school holidays. Some travel to other countries, especially in the Far East.
Average off-peak ticket fares for a round trip to Colombo are estimated to be around QR1,350, Kozhikode QR1,400, Mumbai QR1,250, Kathmandu QR1,300 and Manila QR2,200.
During peak season, a return trip to Colombo would cost about QR2,500, Kozhikode QR2,950 and Mumbai QR2,600.
"During peak season, fares are almost double the average rate. Even if tickets were booked before three months, the fares will not be much less because this is the time the airlines focuses on more revenue," a travel consultant told this daily yesterday.
"There is no increase in peak season fares this year compared to last year. However, the fares are subject to demand and availability of seats," she added.
Although most expatriates travel to their countries during the summer break, some have chosen to travel to Far Eastern countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Doha - Air fares to Doha from various destinations abroad have shot up as the long summer holidays end by the third week of next month.
Expatriate families vacationing back home will start returning to Qatar by mid-September, with schools set to open on September 18 after the summer break.
Several citizens and residents holidaying abroad will also be back before Eid Al Adha holidays that fall in the second week of September.
According to travel industry sources, flights from Colombo, Cairo, London and the Indian cities of Chennai, Mumbai and Kozhikode would cost 75 percent to 100 percent more during mid-September compared to the off-peak fares.
Average one-way ticket fare from Sri Lankan capital Colombo to Doha would be between QR1,500 and QR3,000, from Cairo between QR1,800 and QR2,240, from Kozhikode (in the southern Indian state of Kerala) between QR2,900 and QR3,300 and from London above QR1,800.
Most flights, including budget airlines from most south Asian destinations, are fully booked between September 14 and 17.
The peak season this year started around June 25 and ends by September 20, with a summer break of about three months. Usually the peak season ends by end of August or the first week of September.
However, the peak season for Nepalese expatriates returning home is from the first week of October to the end of November and for Filipinos, December and January.
Most expatriate families prefer to spend summer vacation back home as it coincides with the school holidays. Some travel to other countries, especially in the Far East.
Average off-peak ticket fares for a round trip to Colombo are estimated to be around QR1,350, Kozhikode QR1,400, Mumbai QR1,250, Kathmandu QR1,300 and Manila QR2,200.
During peak season, a return trip to Colombo would cost about QR2,500, Kozhikode QR2,950 and Mumbai QR2,600.
"During peak season, fares are almost double the average rate. Even if tickets were booked before three months, the fares will not be much less because this is the time the airlines focuses on more revenue," a travel consultant told this daily yesterday.
"There is no increase in peak season fares this year compared to last year. However, the fares are subject to demand and availability of seats," she added.
Although most expatriates travel to their countries during the summer break, some have chosen to travel to Far Eastern countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
"Some expatriates prefer to spend a few days in some Far Eastern cities and the remaining at home. They mostly choose to travel from home to their preferred destinations because it costs them less compared to travelling from Doha," said another travel executive.
The travel pattern of expatriates has also changed this year due to the long school holidays, he added.
"Some left Doha by end of June or first week of July and returned by the end of July or first week of August. Many are leaving by mid- August and will return by mid- September," he said. However, children and most non-working women prefer to spend the entire holiday in their home countries.
© The Peninsula 2016
