On June 28, 2024, in Athens, Greece, a tourist took a photo in front of the Acropolis Gate in the background.
Elias Marku | Reuters
Flights between the U.S. and Europe haven’t been cheaper in three years, just after many countries lifted Covid-19-era regulations.
Even in late fall and winter, which are traditionally low seasons (except for major holidays), ticket prices are low.
“Filling seats is brutal during these times of year,” said Brett Snyder, a writer for the travel industry website Cranky Flier.
“Great value” fares across the Atlantic to Europe averaged $578 in November, down from $619 a year earlier, according to flight tracking company Hopper.
Hopper data shows this is the lowest discounted fare this month since 2021, when it was $479 and with much international travel slumped by the pandemic.
Hopper said that in January after the year-end holidays, fares are even lower in 2025: $558 for the same month in 2024, compared with $578 for the same month in 2024, but up from $488 in January 2022 Dollar.
On the other hand, domestic airfare in the United States was more expensive every month from November to March than it was last year.
Many airlines are in financial trouble spirit airlines profitable Southwest Airlines Cutting flights or scaling back growth plans for next year could help keep U.S. fares firm. A scarcity of aircraft also limits airlines from adding large numbers of flights.
Executives at the largest U.S. airlines also had some periods of weak overall demand, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines Already said, a week before and after calling on the United States presidential election Tuesday.
How the airlines got here
Airlines are racing to add seats on flights between the United States and Europe to meet post-pandemic travel demand.
This build-up doesn’t only occur during peak months. Executives noted that they are seeing more Off-season demand What travelers look forward to in Europe Escape the hot summer temperatures and crowds. Therefore, they have also increased flights outside of peak periods.
Airline capacity between the United States and Europe in the fourth quarter was slightly lower than last year but higher than in 2019 and almost double the same period in 2021, Cirium data showed.
“I expect airfares (to Europe) to be lower next year,” said Haley Berg, chief economist at Hopper.
Now, after two big years in European travel, many passengers have just returned from long-haul trips to popular destinations such as Spain and Italy, meaning fewer people are filling seats in the off-season.
“It’s not like there’s that much low-hanging fruit where airlines can print as much money as they did last year,” said Scott Keyes, founder of the travel app Going (previously known as Scott’s Cheap Flights).
Airlines traditionally discount flights during the off-season, but this year prices are even cheaper.
“That’s what it is,” Case said. “When they have to go out and discount, they have to stimulate demand.”
To keep travelers from growing tired of staples of European vacations when next year’s warm-weather travel peak arrives, airlines are trying something new. United Airlines Noting that many customers are already traveling to major European cities, the airline plans to expand its schedule Next year will see more off-the-beaten-path destinations like Greenland and Mongolia.
“Our financial position outside of our partner centers is equally strong,” United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said on an earnings call last month. “So we look globally and we look for New destinations, we look for popular destinations and places where, most importantly, we can make money.”
