Flight ticket prices from UAE to India dropped by almost 30%; return tickets in July start from 1029 dirhams

Residents of the United Arab Emirates planning a trip to India this month can save hundreds of dirhams. According to an analysis by Khaleej Times and data from travel agents, return flights on several routes have dropped by approximately 20–30 percent compared to previous weeks.

Flight Price Dynamics

Prices for flights to many destinations in North and West India have fallen to just over 1000 dirhams for a round trip. However, tickets to South Indian cities remain more expensive. Travel agents predict that lower fares will only be available for a few days in July before prices rise for August travel.

Taha Siddique, owner of Siddique Travel in Mangaluru, noted that flight costs to the coastal state of Karnataka have also decreased in recent weeks. He reported a price drop of about 20 percent, although this depends on the departure airport. According to him, flights from Abu Dhabi are currently usually cheaper than those from Dubai, and lower fares can now be found to cities such as Hyderabad and Chennai.

Nevertheless, Siddique advised travelers planning to fly in August to book tickets in advance, as prices are already starting to rise.

Savings in the North and West

Subair Tekepuratvallappil, manager of Wisefox Travel and Tourism, stated that the greatest savings are currently available on routes to North and West India. He emphasized that tickets to cities like Delhi and Ahmedabad have become more affordable. Furthermore, Mumbai and Pune are significantly cheaper than many South Indian destinations, including Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kozhikode. For a trip lasting seven to ten days in July, return tickets can start from approximately 1080 dirhams.

Price Analysis Details

A price check conducted by Khaleej Times on Bookings.com for a return flight between July 21 and July 31 revealed significant differences between destinations. Among the lowest fares were: Ahmedabad (from 1029 dirhams), New Delhi (from 1041 dirhams), Mumbai (from 1074 dirhams), Pune (from 1114 dirhams), Bengaluru (from 1389 dirhams), Kozhikode (from 1578 dirhams), and Mangaluru (from 1928 dirhams).

The analysis shows that travelers heading to North and West India can find better deals, while prices to popular spots in Kerala and coastal Karnataka remain several hundred dirhams higher despite the recent decrease.

Reasons for Cost Change

Compared to a price check conducted on June 14 for the same dates, when tickets cost approximately 20–30 percent more, it is clear that airfares have softened. Travel agents attribute the lower prices to a temporary slowdown after the start of the summer tourist rush. They expect prices to rise again in August as more families travel before the resumption of the academic year, which will increase demand for flights to India.

timesofindia.indiatimes.comJuly 5, 15:07

Rain and strong winds lead to cancellation of four IndiGo flights and diversion of 13 aircraft at Mumbai airport

Heavy rainfall and gusty winds disrupted flight operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Sunday. These weather conditions forced a temporary suspension of runway operations for approximately one hour.

Consequences of the Weather Conditions

As a result of the bad weather, four IndiGo flights were cancelled, and thirteen arriving aircraft from various airlines had to be diverted, sources reported. Later, all 13 diverted flights were able to safely return and land in Mumbai after the weather improved.

Delays and Impact on Passengers

The airport disruption caused widespread delays. According to the latest data from the Flightradar24 tracking website, about 90% of departing flights were delayed by an average of 65 minutes, and 45% of arriving flights were late, causing significant inconvenience to passengers.

Airport Operational Information

Mumbai International Airport, jointly managed by Adani Group and Airports Authority of India (AAI), stated that adverse weather affected runway operations. The airport announced that around 10:17 AM, unfavorable conditions, including strong wind gusts up to 42 knots and reduced visibility due to heavy rain, impacted runway operations.

In accordance with standard safety protocols, runway operations were 'temporarily suspended' to ensure the safety of passengers, aircraft, and ground staff, clarified the airport operator. Normal runway operations resumed after about an hour once the weather improved.

Details of Cancelled Flights and Airline Reaction

According to sources, the cancelled IndiGo flights included flight 6E 395 from Delhi to Mumbai, 6E 5273 from Mumbai to Indore, 6E 552 from Indore to Mumbai, and 6E 6613 from Mumbai to Delhi. In response to the disruption, IndiGo stated that it is closely monitoring the developing weather situation. The airline posted a message on X stating: 'Bad weather over Delhi and Mumbai has affected flight schedules. We are closely monitoring the weather.... we ask you to stay updated on your flight status.'

However, the airline did not specifically mention the four cancelled flights in its statement. Sources in the air traffic control reported that Mumbai airport serves between 980 and 1000 flights daily, averaging about 48 aircraft movements per hour, of which 24 are arrivals and 24 are departures.