Airline ticket price increases are normal

Travel agencies considered that the price increases in air tickets are currently normal and slight, and at acceptable levels, in light of the operation of limited flight schedules by regional airlines, and thus lower seat capacity levels, with some carriers stopping the operation of their flights to specific stations, and the cost of fuel, and they expected for «Emirates Today» a greater rise in air ticket prices, in the event of the return of full operation of air traffic.

Airline ticket prices to a number of the most popular Arab destinations recorded varying price levels for direct and indirect flights, for a period of seven days in the first week of next April, compared to the same period in April 2025.

Price increases ranged on average between 15 and 25% during the comparison period, according to a survey that included destinations: Cairo, Alexandria, Amman, Beirut, and Damascus, noting that the beginning of April 2025 coincided with the Eid al-Fitr holiday and the return from vacation, where tickets were at relatively high levels, while air carriers currently continue to operate a limited schedule of flights.

Airline ticket prices

In detail, air ticket prices to a number of the most popular Arab destinations recorded varying levels for direct and indirect flights for a period of seven days (the first week of April 2026), compared to the same period in 2025.

Price increases ranged on average between 15 and 25% during the comparison period, according to a survey that included the cities: Cairo, Alexandria, Amman, Beirut, and Damascus.

The comparison period (the first week of April) coincides with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, and the return from vacation during the same period in 2025, when air tickets were at relatively high levels.

According to the survey data, the average price of a flight ticket to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, was about 1,800 dirhams, 2,100 dirhams to the Syrian capital, Damascus, and 2,200 dirhams to the Jordanian capital, Amman, while the Lebanese capital Beirut recorded an average price of about 2,500 dirhams, while the average price of a flight ticket to the Egyptian city of Alexandria was about 1,700 dirhams.

The Beirut and Amman destinations also recorded the highest rate of increase, reaching about 25%, followed by Damascus, with a rate of 20%, and Cairo and Alexandria, with a rate of approximately 15%.

These prices are introductory, as they are subject to availability, and change based on the volume of demand and timing of reservation, especially with the increasing demand for travel, as these price levels cover a period of seven days.

This comes at a time when airlines operate a limited schedule of flights to these destinations, whether via direct or indirect flights, which is reflected in price levels and increases the possibility of their fluctuation during the coming period.

Slight increases

The CEO of Sherif House Tourism and Travel Company, Sherif Al-Farm, said, “The average increase in flight ticket prices to the most popular Arab destinations, such as Beirut, Amman, Cairo, Damascus, and Alexandria, ranges between 20 and 25% compared to the average prices at the beginning of this year.”

He added, “Some destinations recorded more price increases, while others recorded slight increases,” pointing out that the increases to Syria were higher, in addition to Lebanon and Jordan, while the price increases to Egypt were slight.

He continued: “Some destinations have high demand with strong occupancy rates for departing or arriving flights,” pointing out that “airlines apply flexible policies in rebooking or modifying flights during this period, which gives customers flexibility in planning travel.”

He believed that the increases in ticket prices remain slight under these circumstances, given also the high costs and aviation fuel, the change that occurred in the flight schedule, the limited operation of flights, and the cessation of companies from operating direct flights.

Strong request

For his part, Executive Director of STS in the Dubai Link Group, Salah Mansour, said, “There is a strong demand for travel to and from some Arab destinations,” noting that “with the disruption of air traffic and the cancellation of some flights, this has led to an increase in prices within a short period of time, but price increases are currently at acceptable levels ranging between 15 and 20%, given that airlines operate a limited number of flights, and therefore less capacity.”

He explained that “prices are constantly changing based on flight schedules and operating conditions, and it is difficult to determine accurate percentage increases.”

Mansour continued: “We expect a greater increase in prices if air traffic returns fully, given the significant increase in demand for travel, as most customers have resorted to postponing travel plans, and a large segment of customers will return to travel again.”

In the same context, Badr Ahli, CEO of Dubai World Travel Company, said: “With many people postponing travel plans, and with the return of full operation of flights and the complete opening of the skies, we expect an increase in average prices, given the large demand for travel,” pointing out that priority will be for airline tickets whose flights have been rescheduled.

He added that the percentages of increase vary from one destination to another, noting that some destinations are witnessing greater price increases, due to the lack of direct flights operating, as they are traveled to as a point to reach other stations.

Al-Awadhi: Several factors raise prices

The General Manager of Al-Awadhi Travel Company, Amin Al-Awadhi, said that “the increases in air ticket prices are normal and at acceptable levels under the current circumstances,” pointing out that the increases for some stations are slight, and they vary from one destination to another, according to the level and number of flights, whether direct or indirect.

He added that “airlines operate within a limited flight schedule,” noting that there is another factor, which is the rise in fuel prices, which consequently increases the operational costs of air carriers.

He also pointed out that increases in air ticket prices are linked to another variable, which is that there are flights to specific destinations that are indirect.

• Travel agencies expect a greater increase in air ticket prices if air traffic returns to full operation.