Saudi, Hungarian defense ministers discuss military ties    Al-Rajhi: Cabinet's decision is supportive to most vulnerable groups    King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as Royal Court advisor    Alkhorayef emphasizes Saudi Arabia's growing role as global industrial investment hub    Saudi Arabia adopts World Drowning Prevention Day as national health priority    GACA imposes SR2.8 million in fines for 87 civil aviation violations in Q2 2025    Desperate Gaza doctors cram several babies into one incubator as fuel crisis reaches critical point    ICC issues arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over women's rights violations    Syria issues appeal to EU for help battling massive wildfires along northwestern coast    Total e-messages sent to parties in lawsuits reach over 11.8 million during first half of 2025    3 arrested in assault case in Riyadh    New Property Ownership Law will take into effect in January 2026 Al-Hogail thanks King and Crown Prince for the updated law    HONOR returns to Esports World Cup as Official Smartphone Partner for 2025 The renewed commitment will see HONOR elevate mobile esports competition with cutting-edge AI technologies and industry-leading hardware    Riot Games responds to match-fixing allegations in VALORANT    BLAST responds to BESTIA Visa controversy ahead of CS2 Austin major    Christophe Galtier named NEOM SC head coach ahead of historic Saudi Pro League debut    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Michelin Guide launches in Saudi Arabia with phased rollout in 2025    'How fragile we are': Roskilde Festival tragedy remembered 25 years on    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



20 percent rise in air ticket prices likely
By Hamdan Al-Harbi
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 02 - 2010

The price of airline tickets is expected to rise by 15 to 20 percent this year as the Kingdom witnesses an increase in the number of people arriving to perform Umrah, according to Fakadnil Tawfiq, manager of an Asian airline company.
A number of airline experts say that the drop in air ticket prices last year was due to the effects of the world economic crisis and the fear that people had of contracting swine flu. Those who had planned to travel last year but did not are expected to travel this year. This, experts say, will increase the demand for airline seats which will have an impact on the price of air tickets.
Tawfiq said that some airline companies have started raising their prices even before March, when the prices are expected to begin to rise due to the beginning of the Umrah season. He said those who did not perform Umrah last year would do so this year in addition to those who were already planning to perform Umrah this year.
Ahmad Al-Idrisi, manager of a Gulf airline company, said that last year's drop in air ticket prices was due to the forecast that the Saudi market would witness a decline in the number of visitors due to the economic crisis and the swine flu pandemic. However, he pointed out, that more airline passengers arrived in the Kingdom last year than in 2008. Al-Idrisi expects 2010 to witness a further increase in passengers in the Middle East region in general and the Kingdom in particular. This, he feels, will be due to the general recovery that is taking place in the travel and tourism market.
However Abdullah Al-Rajhi, member of the Tourism Committee in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) does not feel that air ticket prices will necessarily increase. He said that travel this year would be completely different from last year. While he expects more people to travel this year, he said that airline companies will use systems that ensure early booking of seats and that guarantee that all the seats on a plane are booked. This, he said, will lead to a successful 2010 season which might actually result in a slight decrease in prices. He stressed that in the end, it is the law of supply and demand that determines whether prices rise or fall.
Al-Rajhi expects the Umrah season to be excellent, as those who changed their mind and did not perform Umrah last year will come to perform the rituals this year. He expects a 20 percent increase in the number of Umrah pilgrims this year.


Clic here to read the story from its source.