A MAJOR airline has slashed the price of fares by 50% for summer as the Middle East war tumbles demand for long-haul flights.
Etihad is now offering some of the lowest ever prices seen for long-haul flights from the UK for May and June as it kicks off a price war with Gulf airlines.
Travellers can get return economy flights with the gulf airline from London to Sydney, via Abu Dhabi, from £688.
This is almost three times cheaper than flying to the Australian capital with British Airways (BA), via Singapore, on the same dates – which is £1,850 in economy.
The Foreign Office is currently advising against all but essential travel – which doesn’t include holidays – to the United Arab of Emirates amid the ongoing conflict.
But Etihad, which is the official airline of the UAE, appears to be gambling on hopes that the situation in the Middle East will have eased by next month.
An Etihad insider told The Times, which analysed the airline’s prices: “As soon as travel picks up, we want to be back to flying planes 100 per cent full in all cabins, as we were before the conflict. These prices will help.”
The airline is also offering market-leading fares to other popular destinations from the UK, including the Maldives, Tokyo and Bangkok.
Brits can get return economy flights to the Maldives with the airline in May and June from £581 – compared with £3,380 with British Airways.
Flights to Singapore are form £391, but are £980 with BA.
Emirates and Qatar Airways, the other main Gulf airlines, have not cut their prices.
Demand for long-haul flights has plunged since the war in Iran first broke out at the end of February, with flights cancelled and the Foreign Office issuing “do not travel” warnings for countries in the Middle East.
Countries in Europe including Spain have seen demand rise, as Brits look for alternative destinations to travel to.
The UK Foreign Office states: “FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates.
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”