Travellers from Kuwait are prioritising direct flights and booking flexibility when planning their journeys, according to new data released by travel marketplace Wego, which highlights the factors influencing flight booking decisions between August and October.
The findings show that
nonstop flights accounted for 90.1% of bookings from Kuwait, compared with 9.9%
for connecting journeys.
On routes offering
both options, nonstop flights were, on average, KWD 2.4 ($7.72)cheaper than
connecting alternatives while saving travellers approximately 1.4 hours of
flying time. The largest fare difference was recorded on the Kuwait-Bangkok
route, reaching KWD 66.2.
The data also
challenges the assumption that booking earlier always guarantees lower fares.
Travellers who booked at least 30 days before departure paid an average of KWD
113.6 per passenger, compared with KWD 105.9 for those booking within seven
days. This represents a 7.2% difference, while 69.4% of bookings were made
within 14 days of departure.
Flexibility in ticket
selection was another key finding. One-way tickets accounted for 61% of
bookings from Kuwait during the period and were, on comparable routes, an
average of KWD 7 cheaper than the equivalent leg of a return ticket.
The difference was
particularly evident on Kuwait-Cairo, the busiest route, where one-way fares
averaged KWD 34.1 per passenger, compared with KWD 45.7 per direction for
return bookings.
Mamoun Hmidan, Chief
Business Officer at Wego, said: “Our booking data highlights a clear preference
among travellers from Kuwait for direct flights and greater flexibility in
planning their journeys. While convenience remains an important consideration,
travellers are also looking more closely at the overall value of their
bookings, including fare conditions and the ability to adapt their plans. At
Wego, our focus is on providing greater transparency and choice, empowering
travellers to make informed decisions that balance convenience, flexibility and
value.”
Winter travel
demand increases
The report also
identified growing interest in winter travel, with searches for December
departures increasing by 42.8% in October compared with September as travellers
began planning for the winter school break and New Year holidays.
Cairo, Manila and
Kochi emerged as the leading destinations in early searches, with average fares
ranging from KWD 70.2 to KWD 251.7 on selected routes.
The findings highlight the importance of price, journey duration and ticket flexibility in shaping travel decisions among Kuwait-based passengers, particularly as demand builds ahead of the winter holiday season. -TradeArabia News Service
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