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 may therefore face fewer options and higher fares.
Recent year-on-year data from online travel agency CheapOair shows that travellers globally remain keen to fly in 2026, although many are delaying their booking decisions and planning trips closer to their departure dates.
According to the data, 62% of travellers are booking trips within 0–30 days of departure, pointing to a growing preference for short-term travel planning. Search activity has also increased across major travel segments, with domestic weekend travel searches rising by 16.2%, international family travel searches by 16.3% and international group travel searches by 11.5%.
However, the rise in searches has not translated into a similar increase in bookings, suggesting that travellers are spending more time comparing options and waiting for better prices before committing.
A similar tendency to delay bookings is being observed in Kenya’s domestic aviation market, particularly ahead of school holidays, long weekends and other peak travel periods.
fly748.com Head of Scheduled Services George Oduor said passengers who already know their travel dates should consider securing their flights early rather than relying on the possibility of cheaper last-minute fares.
“The biggest advantage of booking early is choice. You have more options when it comes to fares, flight times and seat availability, and you are less likely to be caught out when demand increases,” Oduor said.
He cautioned travellers against assuming that waiting until the last minute will automatically result in cheaper tickets.
“Searching and comparing fares is important, but travellers should not assume that waiting until the last minute will always produce a cheaper ticket. Airfares are influenced by demand and seat availability. If you already know your travel dates, particularly for a holiday or weekend trip, it is often better to secure your seat early rather than risk higher fares or limited availability,” Oduor explained.
The advice comes as domestic air travel continues to become an increasingly attractive option for Kenyans travelling for leisure, business and family occasions, particularly on popular coastal routes such as Mombasa and Ukunda/Diani.
For families, Oduor said planning around the school and public holiday calendar can make a significant difference.
“For Kenyan families, the calendar is one of the most useful tools when planning travel. If you know you will be travelling during a school holiday, long weekend or festive period, start looking early. Even when travelling at short notice, being flexible with your departure time or travel date can give you more options,” he said.
