Emirates Air Line

Air fares cut during Ramadan

The approach of the holy month Ramadan is to persuade airlines to reduce ticket prices to stimulate demand during a traditionally quiet travel.

During a time when many residents of the UAE to stay home to observe the religious period with the family, the airlines are enticing travelers to visit destinations like Egypt, Cyprus and England.

"Ramadan is traditionally a quieter period of travel, which means that there are still some great bargains to be had," said a spokesman for flydubai, the budget airline.

This year, he promised special offers through its network of 38 destinations in the GCC, Middle East, North Africa, Indian subcontinent and Asia.

Last year, the airline offered a buy one, get one free trade agreement in which passengers traveling during Ramadan were issued with a coupon for a second free flight.

Ramadan is one of the main influences driving seasonal demand, said Ibrahim Nalkhande, the Chief Operating Officer Travel Planet the group in Dubai.

"Each year, Ramadan has a profound impact on behavior and customer buying," he said.

Business travel in the region drops because of shortened working hours and the overall decline in commercial activity, he said.

Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline are also promoting attractive fares to select destinations during the holy month. Etihad's "breaking deals" Ramadan sale on its website touts special fares to Beirut and other promotions to Cairo, Cyprus and England.

Emirates, based in Dubai, said Ramadan demand this year was "strong" and noted its key markets for travel during the month include destinations in the Middle East and GCC, the UK, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The airline has also lowered fares this month between Egypt and the UAE.

Some airlines have reduced their flights and capacity into the Middle East during the Ramadan period, according to data from Innovata, the flight schedules firm.

Next month's biggest declines in capacity, measured against services this month, will come from China Southern Airlines, which is cutting its number of weekly seats by 44 per cent.

Royal Air Maroc is reducing capacity by 29 per cent and Jazeera Airways by 27 per cent.

Malaysian Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Iberia will all reduce weekly seats into the Middle East by more than 15 per cent, with Air Berlin, Garuda Indonesia and Turkish Airlines also cutting back.

The onset of Ramadan also coincides with the winding-down of the busy summer travel period, said Premjit Bangara, the travel manager at Sharaf Travel in Dubai.

Real Madrid strikes five-year sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines

The deal, that was confirmed by the club at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, will see Emirates become a Partner and Official Airline to the world’s most successful football club.

"Emirates is a world-renowned company that has always respected and valued sport. The airline shares our belief in loyalty, effort, commitment and innovation and these common principles will create a special understanding. We strongly believe this is a strategic alliance bridging us with our many followers all over the world," Florentino Perez, President of Real Madrid, was quoted, as saying by Gulf News.

Emirates are an official FIFA World Cup sponsorship partner and have links with a number of other football teams including Arsenal and AC Milan.

"Adding Real Madrid to our European football sponsorship line-up further enhances a superb list of European teams that we support including Arsenal, HSV, PSG, AC Milan and Olympiacos," Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said.

The sponsorship deal over five seasons, gives Emirates international brand visibility at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and Real Madrid City, as well as promotional and hospitality rights worldwide.

Emirates Airline, Emirates, Emirates Fleet, Emirates Business Model, Emirates Skycargo, Emirates Destinations, Emirates Skycargo Destinations

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