Why last-minute flight bookings are hitting Kenyans’ pockets
Kenyans planning to travel during the August school holidays and other peak periods could avoid higher fares and limited flight options by booking their flights early. Demand typically rises during school holidays, weekends, public holidays and peak tourism seasons, causing seats on popular domestic routes to fill quickly. Travellers who wait until the last minute […] The post Why last-minute…
Kenyans who plan to travel during school holidays and peak periods should consider booking their flights early to avoid higher fares and limited options. Demand for flights typically increases during these times, causing seats to fill quickly. Travellers who wait until the last minute may face fewer choices and higher prices.
According to recent data from the online travel agency CheapOair, globally, travellers remain interested in flying in 2026, but many are delaying their bookings and planning trips closer to departure dates. Sixty-two percent of travellers are booking within 0-30 days of their departure, indicating a growing preference for short-term travel planning.
Search activity has surged across major travel segments, with domestic weekend travel searches up 16.2%, international family travel searches up 16.3%, and international group travel searches up 11.5%. However, this increased search activity has not led to a comparable rise in bookings, suggesting that travellers are taking more time to compare options and wait for better prices before making a commitment.
In Kenya's domestic aviation market, this tendency to delay bookings is particularly noticeable before school holidays, long weekends, and other peak travel periods. George Oduor, Head of Scheduled Services at fly748.com, advises passengers to secure their flights early if they already know their travel dates. "Booking early gives you more options regarding fares, flight times, and seat availability, and reduces the risk of being caught out when demand increases," Oduor explained.
He warns against assuming that last-minute bookings will always result in cheaper tickets, as airfares are influenced by demand and seat availability.
The aviation sector is becoming an attractive option for Kenyans traveling for leisure, business, and family purposes, especially on popular coastal routes like Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani. Oduor emphasizes the importance of planning around the school and public holiday calendar for families. "If you know you will be traveling during a school holiday, long weekend, or festive period, start looking early.
Even if you are traveling at short notice, being flexible with your departure time or travel date can give you more options," he said.
Written by urgent.news from KBC's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
