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By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Airfares are expected to drop by up to 50 percent to various Asian and European destinations beginning today, with the summer peak season coming to its close, say industry sources.
The unusually long peak season in Qatar started around June 25 and will be over by next week — from the day school vacation started till the end of September. Within this peak season, the first week of July saw the highest demand for air tickets.
Fares for outbound flights begin to drop from today and those for inbound flights will reduce by next week, according to travel industry sources. “It was a long season this year starting from Ramadan to the end of September. By now not many people are traveling out of Doha, but some are still returning from holidays,” said a travel agent.
“Although schools are starting on Sunday (today), some families have decided to come back after few days, because the fares will be relatively low. So the inbound fares are still slightly high,” he added.
Asian expatriates preferred to spend the Eid holidays and school summer breaks in their native countries while some travel to Europe and the Far East. Most Qataris travel to European designations such as London, Berlin and Paris during holidays and this year many had chosen places like the Georgian capital Tbilisi and Bosnia as well.
“Many Qatari families travelled to European destinations. This year Tbilisi was a very popular destination. By this week, all of them will be returning to Doha and fares for round trips will see a major fall by next week,” said a travel consultant.
According to industry sources, flights to destinations like the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, and South Indian cities, including Chennai and cities in Kerala, European destinations like London, Paris and Tbilisi would cost 50 percent less than the peak season fares.
A round trip to Colombo would cost an average QR 1500 from next week, QR1,700 to Kozhikode, QR 1,100 to Mumbai, 3,500 to London, QR700 to Dubai, and QR2,000 to Tblisi. During peak season a return trip to London in economy class cost a minimum QR5000, Dubai QR 1,580, Colombo QR2,500, Kozhikode QR2,950 and Mumbai QR2,600.
Although it was not a peak season to Katmandu and Manila, the airfares saw a slight increase than usual days. Nepal peak season is starting from first week of October and Manila’s peak season is in December and January.The Peninsula
