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UAE’s two major airlines – Emirates and Etihad Airways – have decided to ease burden on travellers. Emirates removed the fuel surcharge from tickets, while Etihad Airways is offering up to 40 per cent off on economy class airfares for May.
Travel with some of the UAE based airlines is all set to get cheaper as two popular operators slash airfares on their flights in order to ensure that their lucrative summer traffic is not affected.
Emirates Withdraws Fuel Surcharge
Emirates, Dubai‘s national airline, has announced a removal of fuel surcharge on its flight fares with immediate effect.
The airline decided to get rid of the fuel surcharge on all its tickets in reaction to a plunge in global oil prices. Crude oil prices fell by 15 per cent last week, one of the steepest declines in two and a half years.
Tim Clark, Emirates Airlines’ President, was quoted by different news portals as stating, “In line with the recent decrease in fuel prices, Emirates has removed its fuel surcharge on all tickets.”
“The removal of this surcharge reflects our longstanding commitment to our customers. We promised our customers from the outset that we would eliminate the surcharge as soon as it was commercially viable and this has now been done. We continue to closely monitor the situation,” he continued.
The lowering of the air fares has come as good news for travellers who prefer tickets on comparatively cheap flights but at the same time want to experience the luxuries and amenities of a leading full-service airline.
Emirates’ latest surcharge was applicable for just three weeks. An Emirates spokesperson had stated on April 18, “Due to the current volatility of oil prices, Emirates is introducing a fuel surcharge to reflect the substantial recent increases in our fuel costs.”
“Emirates has already incurred substantial costs by absorbing the recent price rises, but the surcharge gives us the ability to respond faster to market conditions, rather than a lengthier process of incorporating them into fares,” the spokesperson had said in the statement.
“The changes will also give us the ability to decrease prices quickly, where appropriate. We will review the level of the surcharge on an on-going basis, while remaining committed to providing our customers with excellent service and a strong value-for-money proposition,” the spokesperson had said while announcing fuel surcharge on April 18.
Etihad Airways Launches Special Promotion Fares
Etihad Airways too has rolled out an exciting new sales promotion for UAE and GCC based travellers, enabling them to travel via relatively cheap airline flights. Etihad Airways, with its main hub at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, is offering return Coral Economy class air fares with up to 40 per cent discount off standard ticket prices during the month of May for travel to be concluded by the end of the May.
“Last week we were recognised as the Middle East’s Leading Airline at the region’s World Travel Awards, so we are very excited to offer these sale fares to complement the win, designed to help all our UAE based customers choose their perfect holiday or short break during May,” Hareb Al Muhairi, Etihad Airways’ Vice President Sales UAE was quoted as saying by various online sources.
However, if travel experts are to be believed not many airlines are going to follow suit. In fact, a hike is expected in air fares this summer as demand from UAE holidaymakers goes up.