June is the most expensive time to fly from the UAE

Flight prices are down 11% year-on-year

Booking 6 – 12 days before travel can save 21%

Sundays are the best days for booking flights but the priciest days to travel

Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report is debunking myths, revealing that the day of the week does matter when travelling. In the latest research, Sunday emerges as the most budget-friendly day to book but the most expensive to fly. On average, travelers can save 16% by booking on Sunday versus Friday but stand to lose 16% by flying on Sunday versus Thursday.

In this year’s report, Expedia® challenges common travel misconceptions with an analysis of billions of data points and the most extensive air ticketing database in the world, through collaboration with Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) and (OAG).

• Myth #1:“Beating the summer heat is going to be expensive”
  Busted: While June is the most expensive month for Economy flights, savvy travelers can still beat the heat and save money by flying premium in July, the cheapest month of the year for premium tickets.
  • Traveling at the start of the summer heat in June is 13% more expensive than traveling in January – the cheapest month to travel economy. However, July is the cheapest month of the year to travel premium, with October being the most expensive (14% higher). By planning strategically, you can beat the heat and avoid breaking the bank.
• Myth #2:“The day of the week I book my flight doesn’t matter.”
  Busted: Booking on a Sunday can keep more in your wallet.
  • Booking on the right day can make a world of difference. Sunday is officially the cheapest day to book international flights, with savings of up to 16% compared to booking on a Friday, which is the most expensive day to book international flights.[1]
• Myth #3: “The day of the week I travel doesn’t affect the cost.”
  Busted: Thursdays are the cheapest days to depart.
  • It’s not just when you book, it’s when you fly.  Thursday is the cheapest day to fly internationally—travelers can save up to 9% compared to flying on a Monday.[2]
• Myth #4: “The further ahead you book, the cheaper it will be.”
  Busted: 6 to 12 days out is the magic window.
  • Booking too far in advance can actually cost travelers. Booking 6 to 12 days before their international flight is the sweet spot for savings — up to 21% less than those who book more than five months ahead.[3]
• Myth #5:“Airfares always go up every year.”
  Busted: Average ticket prices are down.
  • Economy tickets are down 11% from last year, and premium tickets are 2% cheaper.[4]

“It’s always smart to keep the 2025 Air Hacks in mind when booking flights. With Expedia, travelers have access to extensive travel options, exclusive member discounts, and seamless tools to plan their trips with ease,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group Brands public relations.

“Airfares are down, the peak of summer is not the most expensive time to fly, and booking too far out can actually cost you money – these realities fly in the face of advice floating around the internet,” said Melanie Fish. “It makes sense to trust the billions of data points from across the world and every airline that go into the Expedia Air Hacks report.”

“ARC’s data provided valuable insights into debunking travel myths for Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report that will go a long way to helping travelers prepare for their 2025 vacations,” said Chuck Thackston, managing director of data science and research at ARC. “In 2025, affordable premium and economy fares can help passengers as they continue to prioritize international travel with their discretionary spending to explore new destinations around the world.” 

Expedia’s 2025 Air Hacks Report also uncovers the most popular and trending destinations UAE residents are flying to with Beirut, Toronto and Cairo emerging as the most popular international cities.

            Trending international destinations for UAE travelers, which are seeing a consistent rise in popularity, include Karachi, Pakistan (+65%), Tunis, Tunisia (+65%), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (+60%), Kolkata, India (+55%) and Cape Town, South Africa (+50%)

For more insights and data, read the full 2025 Air Hacks Report below.

Ends

2025 Air Hacks Full Report

WHEN TO BOOK

• Book airfare on a Sunday to save up to 16%. Travelers booking on Sundays can save an average of 16% on international flights compared to Fridays.[5]
• Book premium flights on a Sunday and save up to 22%. Travelers who wait for the weekend to book their premium class seats can save an average of 22% compared to those who book on a Thursday.⁶
• Book international airfare 6 to 12 days before departure to maximize savings. Travelers who booked during this ideal window saved an average of 21% compared to those who booked 128 to 138 days in advance, the ‘worst’ time to book.[6]

WHEN TO TRAVEL

• Depart on a Thursday for international trips to save up to 9%. Travelers who depart on Thursdays save an average of 9% compared to those who depart on Mondays, the most expensive day to start an international trip.[7]
• Depart at nighttime to reduce the chance of cancellations.³ Flights departing between 9 p.m and 3 a.m. have an 8% less chance of being cancelled compared to other times. Afternoon (3pm – 9pm) flights have a 20% higher chance of being cancelled compared to those that leave at nighttime.[8]
• Cancellations are lowest in June and highest in April.[9]
• January is the cheapest month for economy tickets. Travelers can save up to 13% by traveling in January, compared to June, the most expensive month for economy tickets.[10]
• July is the cheapest month for premium tickets. Travelers can save up to 14% by traveling in summer, compared to October, the most expensive month for premium tickets.[11]
• Fly on Tuesday to avoid the crowds. Travelers who fly on Tuesdays enjoy quieter airports. While it may not always be the cheapest day to travel, it’s the best choice for those seeking a more relaxed trip.[12]

2025 AIR TRAVEL TRENDS

• Ticket prices are down: Economy tickets have decreased by 11% and premium tickets by 2% compared to 2023.[13]
• Most popular regional destinations: Amman, Riyadh and Doha range among the most popular regional destinations for UAE flyers. The most popular international destinations are Beirut, Toronto, Cairo, Istanbul and London.[14]
• Trending international destinations: The overseas destinations that are seeing the biggest increase in UAE visitors are Karachi, Pakistan (+65%), Tunis, Tunisia (+65%), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (+60%), Kolkata, India (+55%), Cape Town, South Africa (+50%) and Antalya, Turkey (+45%).[15]
• New airports are opening around the world, improving travel connections. Tulum International Airport (Mexico) and Rajkot International Airport (India) both opened in December 2023, Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport (Cambodia) opened in October 2023, Çukurova International Airport (Turkey) opened in August 2024, and Sao Jose dos Campos (Brazil) opened in February 2024.[16]

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[1] Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October 2024, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

[2] Best day of the week to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October for 2024, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

[3] Ideal booking window recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through November for 2024, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

[4] Price development information is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October for 2024 & average round-trip ticket prices for January through October for 2023, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. 

[5] Best day of the week to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October 2024, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

[6] Best day of the week to book domestic economy recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through November for 2024, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

[7] Best day of the week to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October for 2024, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

[8] Most reliable time of day to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight-status data sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform.

[9] Most reliable month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG’s global flight data platform.

[10] The cheapest month to travel is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October for 2024, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

[11] The cheapest month to travel is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October for 2024, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.

[12] The quietest day and month to travel is based on Expedia flight demand through January to October 2024.

[13] Price development information is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through October for 2024 & average round-trip ticket prices for January through October for 2023, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. 

[14] The most popular destinations information is based on Expedia’s 2024 flight demand through January to October 2024.

[15] The trending destination information is based on Expedia’s 2024 flight demand to-date and flight demand in the same period last year.

[16] The new airport openings data is sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database.