Why flights to Europe are the cheapest they’ve been in years
Flights between the U.S. and Europe have never been this cheap in three years, with many countries just lifting coronavirus restrictions.
Even in the late fall and winter, when traffic is traditionally light (outside of major holidays), fares are low.
“It’s hard to book flights this time of year,” said Brett Snyder, a writer for the travel website Cranky Flier.
“Affordable” transatlantic fares to Europe averaged $578 in November, down from $619 a year earlier, according to flight tracking company Hopper.
That’s the lowest price for the month since 2021, when fares were $479, and with much international travel in the doldrums because of the pandemic, Hopper data shows.
After the year-end holidays, fares in January 2025 are even lower: $558, compared with $578 in 2024, but up from $488 in January 2022, Hopper said.
On the other hand, domestic airfares have been more expensive every month from November through March than they were a year ago.
Many airlines, including financially troubled Spirit Airlines and profitable Southwest Airlines, have cut flights or cut growth plans for next year, helping keep U.S. airfares stable. A shortage of aircraft has also limited airlines from adding flights.
Overall, there have been some periods of weaker demand, executives at the largest U.S. airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines, said on Tuesday, a week before and after the U.S. presidential election, and Trump said.
How airlines got here
Airlines are racing to add flights between the U.S. and Europe to meet post-pandemic travel demand.
This growth isn’t just happening in the peak season. Executives noted they are seeing increased demand in the shoulder season to Europe as travelers look to avoid hot summer temperatures and crowds. So they are also adding flights in the off-peak season.
Airline capacity between the U.S. and Europe in the fourth quarter was slightly lower than last year, but higher than in 2019 and nearly double the same period in 2021, according to Cirium.
“I expect prices to be low next year (to Europe),” said Hayley Berg, chief economist at Hopper.
The peak European travel season is now two years old, and many travelers are just finishing trips to popular destinations such as Spain and Italy, which means fewer tickets will be booked in the off-season.
“It’s not like last year when airlines can make a ton of money,” said Scott Keyes, founder of travel app Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights).
Airlines typically offer discounts during the off-season, but this year’s discounts are cheaper.
“That’s the sign,” Keyes said. “When they have to discount, they have to stimulate demand.”
To keep travelers from getting tired of European vacation spots when the warm-weather travel season arrives next year, airlines are trying new things. United Airlines, which noted that many passengers have been heading to major European cities, plans to expand flights to more remote destinations such as Greenland and Mongolia next year.
“We can achieve the same financial results outside of our partner hubs,” United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said on an earnings call last month. “So we’re looking around the world for new destinations, popular destinations and destinations where, most importantly, we can make money.”
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