Airlines Boss Reacts to Europeans Cutting US Flights
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Some of the largest airlines in Europe have sounded the alarm on declining demand for flights to the U.S.
Bosses at Delta, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa all noted that trans-Atlantic flights, which make up a significant chunk of their revenue, had become less popular in the first quarter of the Trump administration.
Why It Matters
Bookings from Europe to the U.S. for the May through July travel window have dropped sharply, industry analysts projecting a year-over-year decline of 10 percent. The result is an anticipated $8.5 billion reduction in U.S. tourism revenue from international visitors in 2025, according to data from Travel and Tour World. Airlines that previously made huge profit from trans-Atlantic flights are now rerouting aircraft to regions with more stable demand, such as Canada, Mexico, and Brazil.
What To Know
Industry leaders have taken note of the decline in demand, with many top airline bosses framing it in the context of the Trump administration's foreign policy, which has been more hostile toward Europe than its predecessor.
Air France-KLM chief executive Ben Smith, in a report on the company's first quarter, said: "We know there are a lot of customers that are holding back in buying tickets for a little more clarity on … the border, and things like that."
The company's CFO Steven Zaat also noted that the decline in demand was matched by a rise in demand for U.S. flights to Europe in the same period.
A British Airways Airbus A350-1041 flies over traffic on southbound Interstate 5 as it approaches San Diego International Airport for a landing on a flight from London on February 9, 2024 in San Diego, California.
A British Airways Airbus A350-1041 flies over traffic on southbound Interstate 5 as it approaches San Diego International Airport for a landing on a flight from London on February 9, 2024 in San Diego, California.
Getty Images
Similarly, Carsten Spohr, the CEO of Germany's largest airline, Lufthansa, said there was a "slight weakening" in bookings for flights to the U.S, despite the busy summer season.
Spohr said: "When it comes to vacation trips to the U.S, especially from the German, Austrian and Swiss markets, it's easy to imagine conversations around the kitchen table where families are saying, 'We don't know yet if we really want to go."
Responding to the decline, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told The Sunday Times: "There's a political question in the U.S. around immigration, but we need to make certain that people feel comfortable coming here."
"The administration is only a few months in. The deregulatory theme really hasn't come into play yet. We're a capitalist society and we believe we should compete for consumers, not have the government tell us how to compete."
What Happens Next
More route adjustments are expected over the summer as carriers finalize their seasonal schedules. Aviation data firm Cirium reported that six airlines cut or reshuffled eight Europe-U.S. routes in just the past month.
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