Dubai: Travel and tourism agencies have forecast a sharp increase in demand for flights returning to the UAE during the final week of August and the first week of September, as families head back from summer holidays ahead of the new academic year.Industry representatives said occupancy rates on many flights from major destinations are already approaching full capacity, with travellers who have yet to book facing increasingly limited options, particularly on direct flights and preferred travel schedules.Return travel demand risesSalah Mansour, Chief Executive Officer of STS at Dubai Link Group, said the market is witnessing clear signs of rising demand as the summer travel season nears its end.“The last week of August and the first days of September represent the peak of the annual return season,” he said, noting that many families who travelled during July and August are planning to return before schools reopen.Salah Mansour, CEO of STS at Dubai Link Group.Mansour said flights to the UAE from several major destinations are recording very high occupancy rates, with some services nearing full capacity.He added that strong demand is also being seen on routes from popular Arab destinations, including Cairo, Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Alexandria.According to Mansour, travellers who have not yet booked their return flights are likely to face relatively limited options compared with earlier periods, especially for direct flights and preferred departure times.He noted that ticket prices during this period are among the highest of the summer season due to increased demand and fewer available seats.“The price difference between return tickets during the peak at the end of August and those at the beginning of the summer season can be significant on several routes,” he said.Near-full occupancy on key routesAlaa Al Ali, Director of Nirvana Tourism and Travel, said demand traditionally increases during the final two weeks of August and the start of September as families prepare to return to work and school.He said airlines adjust their operating capacity according to demand levels, but the concentration of return travel within a short period often results in near-full occupancy rates, particularly on routes from the most popular summer destinations.Alaa Al-Ali, director of Nirvana Tourism and Travel Company.Al Ali advised travellers making new bookings to remain flexible with their travel dates.“Bringing forward the return date by a few days, or delaying it until immediately after the peak period, may provide more options and better fares,” he said.He added that flexibility in travel timing has become an important factor in securing more reasonable fares during peak travel periods.Travellers urged to review ticket conditionsAmin Al Awadhi, General Manager of Al Awadhi Travel, stressed the importance of checking ticket amendment and cancellation conditions before making changes to travel plans.He said many airlines apply modification fees during peak periods, while travellers may also face substantial fare differences if alternative flights are more expensive.“Besides the fees, there is a very important factor, which is the fare difference before and after the ticket modification,” he said. “During peak periods, the differences can be enormous.”Amin Al-Awadhi, General Manager of Al-Awadhi Travel Company.Al Awadhi added that travellers who wait until the final days before departure to change their return dates may face significantly higher costs than those who make changes well in advance.Early airport arrival advisedAl Awadhi also urged travellers to ensure their travel documents are valid and to verify flight details, departure times and arrival schedules before travelling.He advised passengers to arrive at airports well ahead of departure because of the expected increase in passenger volumes during the return season.According to Al Awadhi, current indicators suggest that strong demand for return travel will continue through the first week of September, driven by residents returning from summer holidays and families preparing for the start of the new school year.He said current market trends point to a robust summer travel season, reflected in both high demand and elevated flight occupancy rates.
