Why flights to Europe are the most affordable in years

Flights between the US and Europe haven't been this low cost in three years, just as many countries were lifting Covid-19-era rules.

Even within the traditionally slow late fall and winter months outside of major holidays, fares are low.

“It's brutal to fill seats this time of year,” said Brett Snyder, author for the travel industry site Cranky Flier.

According to flight tracking firm Hopper, “cheap” fares across the Atlantic to Europe averaged $578 in November, down from $619 last 12 months.

It's the bottom deal fare for this month since 2021, after they were $479 and far international travel was in a lull as a consequence of the pandemic, Hopper data shows.

In January, after the year-end holiday, 2025 rates are even lower: $558 in comparison with $578 the identical month in 2024, but higher than $488 in January 2022, in line with Hopper.

On the opposite hand, US domestic flights are dearer in every month from November to March in comparison with last 12 months.

Many airlines are running into financial difficulties Spirit Airlines too profitable Southwest Airlines have cut flights or trimmed growth plans for next 12 months, which has helped keep U.S. fares stable. The shortage of aircraft can be stopping airlines from offering many flights.

There are also some periods of overall weaker demand, executives at the biggest U.S. airlines said, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines And American Airlines have said and called for within the week before and after the US presidential election on Tuesday.

Airlines have been scrambling so as to add seats between the U.S. and Europe to satisfy post-pandemic travel demand.

This build-up did not only happen in the height months. Executives noted that they’re seeing stronger demand for Europe during shoulder seasons, as travelers expect Escape the scorching summer temperatures and crowds. Therefore, off-peak flights were also added.

According to Cirium, flight capability between the US and Europe within the fourth quarter is barely lower than last 12 months, but higher than in 2019 and almost twice as high as in the identical period in 2021.

“I expect airfare [to Europe] “The forecast will be low next year,” said Hayley Berg, chief economist at Hopper.

Now, after two big years of European travel, many shoppers have freshly returned from their big trips to popular destinations comparable to Spain and Italy, meaning there are fewer people to fill their seats within the off-season.

“It's not like there's as much low-hanging fruit and that airlines can print money as quickly as they did last year,” said Scott Keyes, founding father of travel app Going, formerly often known as Scott's Cheap Flights .

Traditionally, airlines discount their flights within the off-season, but this 12 months they’re even cheaper.

“That’s the truth,” Keyes said. “If they have to discount, they have to meet demand.”

To ensure travelers don't get bored in Europe's fundamental destinations as peak warm-weather travel approaches next 12 months, airlines try recent things. United Airlines has noted that many shoppers have already taken trips to major European cities and the airline plans to expand its schedule to more distant destinations comparable to Greenland and Mongolia next 12 months.

“We can do just as well financially outside of our partner hubs,” Andrew Nocella, United’s chief business officer, said on an earnings call last month. “So we look around the globe, we look for new destinations, we look for hot destinations and destinations, and most importantly, we can make money there.”