Lower air fares as peak travel season comes to an end

Saudi Arabia, January 10, 2011
Now that the peak travel season is over, airline passengers are being urged to book early for their future journey if they want to enjoy the lower fares currently offered by major airlines, travel executives said.

“Airline promotions have started, cutting fares and offering incentives in luggage weight,” said Essam Al-Hussaini, general manager of the Minhal Travel & Tourism Company. “It is time for travelers to take advantage of these discounts.”

He said the cut in airfares is a strategy adopted by airlines to lure passengers who have future travel plans, particularly those who are planning to travel on holidays or foreign workers taking their annual leave.

The slash in travel fare applies to practically all major regional destinations, according to another travel manager in Dammam. “The reduction in airline fares could be as much as 30 percent, depending upon the destination,” he said.

Saudi Arabian Airlines was among the first airlines to announce a cut in its fare to major destinations in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In the Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur-Manila-Singapore routes, Saudia charges only SR1,500 per round trip. To destinations in Pakistan, such as Peshawar, Lahore, and Islamabad, the fare is as low as SR1,000. For Karachi and Dhaka, Bangladesh, the fare starts at SR900,
The fare to destinations in major European cities has been tagged as low as SR1,250, while to GCC destinations, the ongoing airfare is SR860. A Saudi Arabia Airlines announcement said that a 10 percent additional discount will be given to passengers who book and purchase their ticket via the airline’s website. The discounted prices, however, exclude taxes and surcharges. Saudi Arabia Airlines is offering its discounted prices until Mar. 25. “Travel demand may increase at any time, like for example the forthcoming 10-day mid-term school vacation this February; and therefore travelers are advised to take advantage of lower prices now that there is a lull in travel,” Al-Hussaini said.