Passenger numbers to U.S 'fall off cliff' with Aer Lingus slashing fares to as little as €200

Extra.ie​

11 hours ago

Passenger fares for flights to the US have nosedived, with economy tickets to major American cities such as New York and Chicago now selling for just over €200.
Aer Lingus is currently offering fares as low as €209 economy class to popular US destinations, while business-class prices have been slashed to as low as €800.
The massive price drop comes as many travellers opt to avoid the US amid ongoing political turmoil there. US president Donald Trump. Pic:Traditional business-class travellers are particularly affected as some corporations advise employees to 'avoid US business trips' as much as possible, according to senior corporate sources.
The Trump administration's tightening of its border policy, coupled with riots that have broken out in Los Angeles and other cities, is believed to be contributing to the decline in transatlantic travel.
One high-level decision-maker for a leading pharmaceutical company said they have put a 'hard pause' on business travel to the US in the short term.
The US-based CEO said of the stricter immigration controls: 'It's causing total chaos. Getting a visa is now a job in itself. Then, even if you do get a visa, when you get there, there's no guarantee you'll get in.
'Or if you do, you may face being interrogated at the point of entry and be asked to hand over your devices.
'The reality is that people who go to the US in order to conduct business expect hassle-free travel, as doing deals at a high level is in itself a highly stressed environment. So at our level, we've taken an executive decision to 'hard pause' non-essential travel for the foreseeable.' Los Angeles County Sheriffs stand at their positions as law enforcement clashes with demonstrators during a protest following federal immigration operations, in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on June 7, 2025. (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images)
The slump in business-class travel has been further negatively affected by the decline in corporate travellers from the UK, who would transit through Irish airports, who are also avoiding travel to the US.
Tickets for flights to JFK Airport in New York at various dates throughout September, October and November were available for €209 this weekend. The cost of upgrading to business class on the same flights comes to around €800.
In less turbulent times, a business-class seat could cost upwards of €1,800 one way. Flights bound for Chicago O'Hare International Airport were also following a similar price pattern with basic seats starting at around €200. Business-class seats were selling for €798. Tánaiste Simon Harris. Pic:for Empire State Realty Trust
The slump in transatlantic travel comes as US president Donald Trump's regime continues to beef up its vetting process for travellers to the US, from the visa application stage right up to point of entry into American cities.
Earlier this month, secretary of state Marco Rubio's office instructed US consular officers to ask visa applicants to set all social media accounts to public in the event they need to be reviewed as part of the vetting.
Last month the US Citizenship and Immigration Service issued a statement announcing it will be taking into account 'antisemitic activity on social media' as 'grounds for denying immigration benefit requests'.
Mr Trump's tariff threats and his upending of traditional transatlantic diplomatic ties have also affected the numbers now travelling to the US.