Summer Getaway Prices From MENA Are Climbing Fast! Here’s Why NOW Is Your Best Time to Book

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Summer travel plans still sitting in your browser tabs? Now might be the time to act. Wego’s latest data shows that average airfares from MENA for summer 2025 have already crept above last year’s levels, and they’re not done climbing.

This isn’t a drill: prices are up across the board, and many of the routes MENA travelers love most are getting more expensive by the week. So, whether you’re thinking about a European adventure or chasing the tropics in Southeast Asia, one thing’s clear: the earlier you book, the better the deal. Let’s break it down.

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Year-on-year price jumps

You know it’s summer travel season when flight prices start climbing faster than your holiday excitement. Compared to this time last year, average fares from MENA to many popular destinations have taken a noticeable leap, in some cases more than 20% higher.

Almaty may be topping the percentage charts, but it’s the usual suspects that are shaping the real story. From Cairo’s consistent popularity to Dubai’s regional connectivity, and Bangkok’s long-haul appeal to Istanbul’s cultural draw, these are the cities MENA travelers gravitate toward summer after summer. Add in the timeless pull of Alexandria and the steady relevance of Amman, and the picture is clear: demand across these classic routes is holding strong. And so are the fares.

Consider this a gentle nudge to lock in your fare before it turns into a “wish I booked it last week” moment. Below is a table showing the year-on-year average airfare increases for key summer routes in 2025.

Week by week, fares continue to climb

Still daydreaming about snagging a last-minute summer deal? Consider this your heads-up: fares are on the rise, and the clock is ticking. During the week of 5–12 May alone, several top routes saw noticeable jumps in price. While cities like Cairo and Istanbul offered a brief price dip, the bigger picture says it all: flight prices are creeping up almost everywhere, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon.

Berlin’s prices shot up by over 26%, Sharjah and Frankfurt weren’t far behind, and even long-haul favorites like Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are inching higher. Dubai’s climbing, Amman’s climbing, and even modest movers like Abu Dhabi are starting to look more expensive by the day.

So if you’ve been waiting for the “perfect time” to book, this is it. The table below highlights 15 of the most relevant MENA routes ranked from highest to lowest weekly change, with key destinations like Bangkok, Dubai, and Amman continuing their upward climb. At the same time, Cairo, Istanbul, and Alexandria show slight dips that may not last long. Taken together, the message is clear: hesitation could cost you.

Travel tip: Short-term dips are great for last-minute bookers but rarely stick. Some of the recent price drops came after weeks of steady increases and could rebound just as quickly, especially as availability tightens closer to summer.

By region: Where prices are climbing fastest

North Africa

Cairo and Alexandria remain key summer gateways. Cairo fares are up nearly 18% YoY, and while prices dipped slightly this week, they’ve shown volatility throughout the season. Alexandria saw a smaller YoY rise, but demand remains strong. Luxor, which surged earlier in spring, experienced a sharp weekly drop, potentially a brief window for bargain hunters.

GCC

Dubai continues to see strong pricing pressure with fares up +17% YoY and a further +3.2% increase this week. Abu Dhabi and Sharjah also posted week-on-week gains, reflecting rising intra-regional travel demand ahead of summer. Meanwhile, Amman saw a +7.8% YoY increase and a +3.5% weekly rise, a clear sign that it’s holding steady as a high-demand route this summer.

Europe

The steepest fare increases are coming from key European cities like Frankfurt, Warsaw, and Zurich. Frankfurt saw a massive +16% WoW surge — one of the highest of the season so far. Meanwhile, Geneva, Budapest, and Amsterdam are steadily climbing, suggesting early summer demand is building fast.

Southeast Asia

Kuala Lumpur is climbing steadily, up +17.2% YoY and +3.8% WoW. Bangkok, while more stable, also saw a week-on-week gain. The upward trend across SEA routes indicates that even long-haul escapes are not immune to summer pricing pressures.

Central Asia

Almaty stands out as the only Central Asian city in our analysis, with a +19.6% YoY increase, the highest among all tracked destinations. While it saw a slight dip this week, its overall trajectory reflects growing curiosity for alternative summer escapes beyond the usual European circuits.

Waiting won’t make it cheaper

In all honesty, flight prices have a mind of their own. They don’t wait for the weekend or for your annual leave to get approved. And right now, they’re rising faster than your group chat can agree on a destination.

We’ve seen fares creeping up week by week, destinations getting booked out, and those magical deals disappearing in a click. So instead of playing airfare roulette, here’s what you can do:

• Book your ticket 6–8 weeks ahead to beat the peak pricing rush
• Use Wego to compare deals across airlines, apps, and OTAs in one tap
• Pick a flexible fare if you’re still finalizing details, it’s one less thing to stress about

The takeaway? Don’t overthink it. If you know where you’re going, now’s the time to get going.