City residents left with no choice on air ticket hike

DUBAI — Most residents here feel that the price hike initiated by Emirates Airline on Wednesday has left them with no alternative but to accept the inevitable.

By Criselda E. Diala

Published: Fri 17 Feb 2006, 11:14 AM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 6:49 PM

Emirates earlier announced that the increase in fuel prices has prompted them to adjust their fuel surcharges on tickets issued in the UAE by Dh20 on one-way and Dh40 on return trips effective February 15. Other airlines may likewise implement a similar hike in the future.

"Of course I am not in favour of the hike but there's no way I can complain about it because everything has increased. I have to accept it since everybody has to pay for something. A businessman, for instance, would have to keep on travelling. He cannot just stop his business because of a ticket price increase," said Lakhi Vaswani, a Sri Lankan sales representative who has been a resident of Dubai for 13 years.

Vaswani also believes that the increase will somehow create a domino effect on the economy in the sense that businessmen would have to pass the cost of the hike on their customers.

Norberto Sumpo, Jr., an accounting staff, said his company provides free air ticket only every other year. So, if he plans to go on a holiday now, he would have to pay for his ticket.

"I have been here for only 10 months and as of now, I have no plans of going on vacation to the Philippines. The hike is indeed a burden but we have no choice and we can only accept it. I'm sure the hike was carefully thought of by the airline management in consideration of the corresponding fuel price increase," Sumpo said.

Jayasree Kumar, who has been living in the emirate for 21 years, however, noted that bigger concern facing most expatriates here is that despite an increase in the prices of basic commodities and air ticket, the salary range has remained static.

Another long-time Dubai resident, Melchor Fernandez, said the burden of the hike will be felt greater by people who would have to pay for their own tickets, especially those who are living here with their families.

"For some expatriates whose air tickets are shouldered by their companies, it wouldn't be much of a problem. But this will also develop some kind of an economic setback for small- and medium-scale companies that hire foreign workers," Fernandez said.

A.A., an Italian national who is based in Abu Dhabi, said she is also not in favour of the hike but people would have to endure it anyway. "People are left with no alternative and this is not going to stop soon. I believe this is all part of an international economy game," she said.