All eyes on Dubai/Emirates – good news and lower airfares
Dubai/Emirates is not going off the wallpaper when it comes to the most popular destination this winter. Each successive month brings new information that seems to solidify this trend. More and more lines are also seeing the potential of this destination, and this is causing prices to start dropping. LOT, however, can’t decide when and which airport to fly to?
ITB – the power of positive information about Dubai and Emirates.
With the first fully remote ITB fair behind us, it is no surprise that Dubai and the UAE stood out among the stars of the fair. We could hear about plans related to this year’s Expo. But the Emirate of Abu Dhabi attracted the main attention. Its massive investment plans with the monumental Grand Canal and the Guggenheim museum will build a strong market position many years ahead.
No less important seems to be the information as to the extension of the “golden visa program.” There is also additional potential for relocation and the opportunities that remote working from anywhere in the world brings. Dubai hotels have already prepared long-stay offers and are tempting covid nomads with them. This is a very interesting alternative for Central European countries.
Polish Expo backyard and side events – Go to Brand for companies
There is just as much going on on the Poland-Dubai line. This week marks the end of another edition of Go to Brand, during which Polish companies can get subsidies to participate in events planned in the Emirate. The interest is huge.
More companies that want to serve this demand are also growing. Warsaw-based MK Business Link is even planning to open a representative office in Dubai soon. Yes, to deal professionally with the continuation of business relations of Polish companies of Go to Brand beneficiaries (but not only). The El Partners law firm, which cooperates with MK Business Link, is handling applications for Polish companies. This is how a highly effective tandem was formed. In addition, the company is a representative of an extremely interesting trade fair that will be a peripheral event within the Expo – Hotel, Wedding and Technology.
From the perspective of the tourism industry, it is precisely this kind of fair that could be an additional draw to Dubai. Polish ministries plan to participate very actively in these events. Presence at the fair is also planned by the regions (Pomerania). All this will translate into further interest in travel to Dubai/Emirates.
Airlines see demand: Qatar joins the fray, LOT tries with Turkish
As we mentioned above, the airline sees Dubai as the star of the airline ticket market. Qatar Airways has recently joined the race for passengers very dynamically, causing tickets of this carrier to become less than 1800 PLN. Noteworthy, travel times and short connecting flights are working in their favor here. If we add an interesting program for small and medium-sized companies, we have a solid alternative to Emirates’ monopoly.
Emirates itself is also looking for solutions to improve its current product from Warsaw. After all, it doesn’t fly every day. So they have expanded their offerings in cooperation with partner airlines. On days when EK doesn’t fly, we can find good prices on connecting flights with Sas or Lufhtansa. Hard to look for such in cooperation with LOT. Although it would be tempting to use LOT nationals for the Warsaw-Cracow-Dubai route, operated by FlyDubai.
LOT itself is also trying to pinch something from this pie, although it has limited scope for today. Small number of partners giving synergy makes the only reasonable marriage is with Turkish. However, the offer has significant drawbacks, we have a good product only one way. The added value of such a solution will appear only with the launch of direct flights of the Polish carrier.
LOT will fly to Dubai is certain, but when will it be decided? sales are escaping
It seems that the actions of other airlines will mobilize LOT to decide more quickly on flights to Dubai. It is hard to imagine a different scenario. From the information circulating in the market, it is still not clear which Dubai airport a Polish airline can fly to.
Certainly Emirates will not ease LOT’s formal path, and may do everything to reduce Cargo opportunities, which is a powerful income on the line to Dubai. The choice of airport in this context may indeed be crucial.
However, further waiting with the decision is not advisable, companies are already booking flights to the Expo, and in a moment there will be another wave of ticket / cargo bookings associated with the settlement of the Go to Brand program.
The good news doesn’t end there – the Saudi Tourism Organization will also open an office in Central Europe
The good news related to the Bay seems to be endless. In the coming weeks, the process of selecting a local representative of the Saudi Tourism Organization will be completed. It will also be decided whether the regional office will be based in Prague or Warsaw. Regardless of the choice we will have a person in Poland responsible for this destination.
Our region is one of the key markets for the Saudis. They are also very open to the possibility of combining trips to Arabia with the one to Dubai. Favorable and large number of connections from Dubai to Saudi Arabia favors such a product.
So in a moment we are facing an increased promotion of this direction, the first webinar for Polish agents already in April.
“Frostbite” more attractions for families in Dubai , good prices and LOT’s entry will support it
More family-oriented attractions prepared in Dubai are also opening up. Above all, Dubai Parks and Resorts is counting on Polish customers. Attractive flight prices, mentioned above, as well as the planned entry of a national carrier into this market will significantly increase the availability of this type of product for Polish customers.
Certainly, Polish tour operators will also do their best to take advantage of the Emirates boom. So far its beneficiaries are smaller players, specialists in dynamic bundling. Market leaders such as Ithaca can be expected to include Dubai in dynamic bundling once LOT makes its plans public.