Despite being in the off-peak travel season of late autumn and winter (excluding major holidays), the prices of plane tickets from the United States to Europe in November this year have never been so cheap in nearly three years.
According to a report by CNBC, based on data from the flight tracking company Hopper, the “discounted” ticket prices for flights from the United States to Europe in November averaged $578, lower than $619 during the same period last year. Hopper’s data also shows that this is the lowest discounted ticket price for November since 2021 when ticket prices were $479 due to the pandemic causing a downturn in international travel.
Brett Snyder, a writer for the travel industry website “Cranky Flier,” stated that filling seats at this time of the year is extremely challenging.
Based on Hopper’s data, after the end of the 2024 year-end holidays, the ticket prices for January 2025 are even lower: $558, which is below $578 for the same period in 2024 but higher than $488 in January 2022.
On the other hand, from November this year to March next year, domestic flight prices in the United States are higher every month compared to the same period last year. This is due to many airlines, from Spirit Airlines to Southwest Airlines, reducing flights or trimming growth plans, helping to maintain stability in domestic flight prices in the United States. Aircraft shortages also limit airlines from adding more flights.
So why are flight prices from the United States to Europe so cheap?
After the pandemic, major airlines rushed to increase flights between the United States and Europe to meet travel demands. Additionally, the added flights were not just during peak seasons. Aviation industry executives explained that some travelers wished to avoid the hot summer and crowded places, leading to an increase in off-peak demand for traveling to Europe. Therefore, airlines also added flights during non-peak seasons.
Now, after two years of increased travel to Europe post-pandemic, many American tourists have already visited popular destinations such as Spain and Italy, meaning there will be fewer people needing to fill seats during the off-peak season.
Airlines traditionally offer discounts during off-peak seasons, but this year’s prices are even cheaper because companies have to stimulate demand by offering more discounts.
“I expect low ticket prices to Europe to continue into next year,” said Hayley Berg, Chief Economist at Hopper.
To prevent travelers from getting weary of vacationing in Europe during the peak travel season when the weather is warmer next year, airlines are trying new approaches. United Airlines noticed that many passengers have already traveled to tourist hotspots in major European cities, prompting the company to expand its flights to more off-the-beaten-path destinations such as Greenland and northern Spain next year.
Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances at United Airlines, said, “Savvy travelers have visited Paris, Rome, and Madrid many times, they are looking for something different.”
Experts also indicate that overcrowding in traditional popular European tourist spots is driving tourists to less crowded areas.
Travel consultant Sofia Markovich mentioned that people are indeed exploring places that are not overly crowded because cities like Paris, Rome, London, and Barcelona are too congested. Experienced travelers are eager to get away from such situations.