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Travel Weekly
4 days ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Are Americans traveling this summer? Where are they headed?
Clockwise from top left: Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg, host Rebecca Tobin and cruise editor Teri West talk about Americans' summer 2025 travel plans. Subscribe now using your favorite service: What is going on with summer travel? As Memorial Day passes and Americans prepare to take to the roads and skies, we've heard a lot of mixed messages from travel companies about what this year might bring. Just a few weeks ago we spoke on the Folo podcast about "chop" and "noise" in projecting future booking patterns. In this episode Hopper lead economist Hayley Berg returns to talk about her data: Whether Americans are traveling and, if so, where their summer plans might take them. We talk about the obvious destinations and the hidden gems -- plus one great summer-booking tip. With us is cruise editor Teri West, who looks into research from the Mastercard Economics Institute on its travel trend report. This episode was recorded Thursday, May 22 and has been edited for length and clarity. Episode sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands Related links: Asian Cities shine in Mastercard Economics Institute's 2025 travel trends report Volatility is making hotel forecasting difficult Travel advisors voice their concerns about job cuts and the economy Related Folo by Travel Weekly episodes:
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Summer air travel could be a ‘recipe for frustration'
US air travel has seen a very bumpy year filled with safety incidents, fatal accidents and an air traffic control meltdown that has expedited plans for a complete overhaul of the system. 2025 started with a tragedy in Washington, when 67 people died in a midair collision between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter. Heightened anxieties stirred national attention to close calls between commercial jets and go-around maneuvers performed by pilots to prevent accidents. To top it off, an air traffic control meltdown plagued Newark Liberty International Airport for weeks after staffing shortages and technology outages caused hours-long delays. All this raising the question: What will summer look like for air travelers in the US? Prepare for disruptions, experts say. The kickoff to the summer travel season starts with Memorial Day weekend, when United Airlines alone is expected to fly 300,000 more passengers than last year. The Federal Aviation Administration is expecting record-high travel over the holiday weekend and its busiest summer in 15 years, with the peak at the end of July. The agency has said it's prepared for the high volume, but travel industry experts warn that understaffing and infrastructure breakdowns could complicate operations. There are plans in the works from the Department of Transportation and the FAA to address these issues at airports and air traffic control facilities, but a complete revamp of the air traffic control system will take at least the next three to four years. If you're traveling this summer, be sure to plan for a possible disruption. Disruptions are 'always worse in the summer,' said Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel booking and price tracking company Hopper. 'In the summer, there's more people flying,' Berg said. 'Airports are busier, I think we are certainly starting to see the impact of understaffing, as airlines are now in their second or third year of flying full capacity and air traffic and airport staffing are not back to the levels that we would need to support the volume.' Overall, she said, disruption rates are down for May compared to previous years, however, specific airports have had a bad month. Newark Liberty International Airport has dealt with four separate technology outages since April 28. Staffing is stretched thin at the facility that controls approaches and departures of flights, and a runway is still under construction. The FAA ordered airlines to decrease flights at Newark by about 25%, compared to the number of flights there in early April. After June 15, when runway construction is not ongoing, some flights can return – but the airport is still limited to fewer flights than before. Les Abend, a retired American Airlines Boeing 777 captain, said the problems that have been plaguing Newark recently could 'start leaking out of other facilities.' But he underlined that the US already has next-generation (NextGen) air traffic control capabilities. 'It's the infrastructure that supplies the data that's become the issue,' he said. Disruptions such as the air traffic control outages that happened at Newark can create a 'domino effect' on flights in other places. Add air traffic controller shortages and the time that it takes to train a controller at any given facility to that mix, plus typical summer storms that can slow operations, and 'Yeah, it can be a recipe for frustration for travelers. There's no doubt,' said Abend. 'The fact that we're seeing that our infrastructure is breaking down, to some extent — it's not going to collapse by any means — it's just going to be bits and pieces. And it's just going to create frustration as far as delays, cancellations, so on and so forth.' But he added that he wants to reassure the public. 'It's still a safe system. If you lose contact with air traffic control, we as pilots have a system and a protocol to do certain things,' Abend said. Abend said he's not anticipating system-wide disruption this summer. 'I would say the majority of times, you're going to get to where you want to go when you're scheduled to get there.' Summer is a hotspot at Newark Airport, which is an international hub for many flyers heading to Europe or many other transatlantic destinations, Berg said. 'Those passengers, I think, are certainly feeling some anxiety about what their travel plans are going to look like,' she said. Despite the natural hassle that comes with packed airports and crowded planes, most travelers will still take the trip, according to Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, an online service that helps travelers seek compensation when plans are disrupted. But he thinks many passengers have changed their attitudes towards Newark Airport. '(Travelers) are really cautious on what's going on and how they fly, and I think the media attention also brought up quite a lot of problems to the surface, that existed for years,' he said. Domestic airfare is down about 3% from the same time last year, which is the lowest level since 2021 at $265 per round trip ticket, Hopper's 2025 summer travel outlook reported. Fares to Europe are down about 8% from 2024. 'I'm expecting a business-as-usual summer, maybe a little less of a crowd on the busiest days as people try to travel on cheaper days of the week,' Berg said. However, a recent survey from Bankrate shows 54% of adults expect to spend less on travel, eating out or entertainment this year, compared to last year. Of those surveyed, 65% of Americans who are not traveling this summer say they can't afford it and another 23% say they're not interested. But United Airlines, which has a major hub at Newark, expects to serve more passengers this season. In June, July and August, United expects to fly nearly 50 million passengers, about a 3 million passenger uptick from last year's summer. So far, the busiest US air travel day this year was April 17 with over 54,000 flights, according to the FAA. The FAA expects six more days of over 54,000 flights through the end of August. While there are many things up in the air with travel this summer, experts say it's important to follow a few simple tips to try to have the least amount of disruption. Flying direct will help alleviate the stress of missing a connection at other airports, Pawliszyn said. He also recommends flying in the morning and avoiding the weekend. 'Until we stop hearing stories about Newark,' Abend said he would book New York-area flights through JFK or LaGuardia this summer. He also advised travelers to take a proactive stance on potential disruptions, keeping an eye on where the aircraft servicing their flight is coming from and what the weather is like there. If storms are likely to slow things down, passengers may want to change their flights. CNN's Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.
CNN
23-05-2025
- CNN
Summer air travel could be a ‘recipe for frustration'
US air travel has seen a very bumpy year filled with safety incidents, fatal accidents and an air traffic control meltdown that has expedited plans for a complete overhaul of the system. 2025 started with a tragedy in Washington, when 67 people died in a midair collision between a commercial jet and an Army helicopter. Heightened anxieties stirred national attention to close calls between commercial jets and go-around maneuvers performed by pilots to prevent accidents. To top it off, an air traffic control meltdown plagued Newark Liberty International Airport for weeks after staffing shortages and technology outages caused hours-long delays. All this raising the question: What will summer look like for air travelers in the US? Prepare for disruptions, experts say. The kickoff to the summer travel season starts with Memorial Day weekend, when United Airlines alone is expected to fly 300,000 more passengers than last year. The Federal Aviation Administration is expecting record-high travel over the holiday weekend and its busiest summer in 15 years, with the peak at the end of July. The agency has said it's prepared for the high volume, but travel industry experts warn that understaffing and infrastructure breakdowns could complicate operations. There are plans in the works from the Department of Transportation and the FAA to address these issues at airports and air traffic control facilities, but a complete revamp of the air traffic control system will take at least the next three to four years. If you're traveling this summer, be sure to plan for a possible disruption. Disruptions are 'always worse in the summer,' said Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel booking and price tracking company Hopper. 'In the summer, there's more people flying,' Berg said. 'Airports are busier, I think we are certainly starting to see the impact of understaffing, as airlines are now in their second or third year of flying full capacity and air traffic and airport staffing are not back to the levels that we would need to support the volume.' Overall, she said, disruption rates are down for May compared to previous years, however, specific airports have had a bad month. Newark Liberty International Airport has dealt with four separate technology outages since April 28. Staffing is stretched thin at the facility that controls approaches and departures of flights, and a runway is still under construction. The FAA ordered airlines to decrease flights at Newark by about 25%, compared to the number of flights there in early April. After June 15, when runway construction is not ongoing, some flights can return – but the airport is still limited to fewer flights than before. Les Abend, a retired American Airlines Boeing 777 captain, said the problems that have been plaguing Newark recently could 'start leaking out of other facilities.' But he underlined that the US already has next-generation (NextGen) air traffic control capabilities. 'It's the infrastructure that supplies the data that's become the issue,' he said. Disruptions such as the air traffic control outages that happened at Newark can create a 'domino effect' on flights in other places. Add air traffic controller shortages and the time that it takes to train a controller at any given facility to that mix, plus typical summer storms that can slow operations, and 'Yeah, it can be a recipe for frustration for travelers. There's no doubt,' said Abend. 'The fact that we're seeing that our infrastructure is breaking down, to some extent — it's not going to collapse by any means — it's just going to be bits and pieces. And it's just going to create frustration as far as delays, cancellations, so on and so forth.' But he added that he wants to reassure the public. 'It's still a safe system. If you lose contact with air traffic control, we as pilots have a system and a protocol to do certain things,' Abend said. Abend said he's not anticipating system-wide disruption this summer. 'I would say the majority of times, you're going to get to where you want to go when you're scheduled to get there.' Summer is a hotspot at Newark Airport, which is an international hub for many flyers heading to Europe or many other transatlantic destinations, Berg said. 'Those passengers, I think, are certainly feeling some anxiety about what their travel plans are going to look like,' she said. Despite the natural hassle that comes with packed airports and crowded planes, most travelers will still take the trip, according to Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, an online service that helps travelers seek compensation when plans are disrupted. But he thinks many passengers have changed their attitudes towards Newark Airport. '(Travelers) are really cautious on what's going on and how they fly, and I think the media attention also brought up quite a lot of problems to the surface, that existed for years,' he said. Domestic airfare is down about 3% from the same time last year, which is the lowest level since 2021 at $265 per round trip ticket, Hopper's 2025 summer travel outlook reported. Fares to Europe are down about 8% from 2024. 'I'm expecting a business-as-usual summer, maybe a little less of a crowd on the busiest days as people try to travel on cheaper days of the week,' Berg said. However, a recent survey from Bankrate shows 54% of adults expect to spend less on travel, eating out or entertainment this year, compared to last year. Of those surveyed, 65% of Americans who are not traveling this summer say they can't afford it and another 23% say they're not interested. But United Airlines, which has a major hub at Newark, expects to serve more passengers this season. In June, July and August, United expects to fly nearly 50 million passengers, about a 3 million passenger uptick from last year's summer. So far, the busiest US air travel day this year was April 17 with over 54,000 flights, according to the FAA. The FAA expects six more days of over 54,000 flights through the end of August. While there are many things up in the air with travel this summer, experts say it's important to follow a few simple tips to try to have the least amount of disruption. Flying direct will help alleviate the stress of missing a connection at other airports, Pawliszyn said. He also recommends flying in the morning and avoiding the weekend. 'Until we stop hearing stories about Newark,' Abend said he would book New York-area flights through JFK or LaGuardia this summer. He also advised travelers to take a proactive stance on potential disruptions, keeping an eye on where the aircraft servicing their flight is coming from and what the weather is like there. If storms are likely to slow things down, passengers may want to change their flights. CNN's Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Theme park magic meets premium pricing as Epic Universe drives up Orlando travel costs
Theme park lovers eager to escape reality at Epic Universe this summer may be paying a premium to get there. Orlando's newest and highly anticipated theme park is set to open its doors on May 22, transporting park goers to five immersive worlds. Guests can enjoy new thrilling attractions, shops, eateries and other experiences crafted with incredible detail. Fans flocking to the new park this summer are set to drive up travel demand to Orlando, with an increase in flight capacity and ticket prices to the theme park hub compared to last year. Here's what travelers should expect to visit Epic Universe this summer. Airfare to Orlando during Epic Universe's opening averages $209, an increase from $179 at around the same time last year, according to travel platform Hopper. In the summer, the price goes up to $217, about 8% higher than flights last summer. 'Prices for flights to Orlando from U.S. cities for the first 10 days of Epic Universe are 17% higher than the same 10 days last year,' Hayley Berg, Hopper's chief economist, said in a statement. 'This is not surprising, as airfares to Orlando are higher for all dates in May compared to last year.' Travelers can still score some flight deals during the peak summer season if they do a little sleuthing and are flexible with their dates. Here are some low airfares, according to New York City to Orlando for June 4-8: $238 round-trip (40% less than typical) Los Angeles to Orlando for June 1-7: $245 round-trip (40% less than typical) Atlanta to Orlando for June 2-6: $217 round-trip (40% less than typical) Chicago to Orlando for June 3-11: $217 round-trip (45% less than typical) Dallas to Orlando for June 12-17: $258 round-trip (40% less than typical) Here are the per-night hotel rates at Universal properties for the peak summer dates of July 7-10, according to Universal's Loews Sapphire Falls Resort: $257 Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort: $177 Universal's Endless Summer Resort: Dockside Inn and Suites: $190 Universal's Endless Summer Resort: Surfside Inn and Suites: $196 Guests can purchase tickets for both single-day and multi-day admission. Single-day tickets for May are currently only available to annual passholders and guests who purchase a multi-day package, which includes one day or more at Universal's other parks and one day at Epic Universe. Single-day admission for visits beginning June 1 costs between $139 and $199, depending on the day. Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Premium price tag: What it costs to visit Epic Universe this summer
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Theme park magic meets premium pricing as Epic Universe drives up Orlando travel costs
Theme park magic meets premium pricing as Epic Universe drives up Orlando travel costs Show Caption Hide Caption Super Mario, Harry Potter: An inside look of Universal Epic Universe Universal fans have new worlds to be fully immersed in as Epic Universe is unveiled with its five, unique worlds, ahead of its official opening. Orlando's newest theme park, Epic Universe, opens May 22, increasing travel demand and prices. Flights to Orlando average $209, up 17% from last year during the park's opening days. Hotel rates at Universal properties range from $177 to $257 per night during peak summer dates. Theme park lovers eager to escape reality at Epic Universe this summer may be paying a premium to get there. Orlando's newest and highly anticipated theme park is set to open its doors on May 22, transporting park goers to five immersive worlds. Guests can enjoy new thrilling attractions, shops, eateries and other experiences crafted with incredible detail. Fans flocking to the new park this summer are set to drive up travel demand to Orlando, with an increase in flight capacity and ticket prices to the theme park hub compared to last year. Here's what travelers should expect to visit Epic Universe this summer. How much are flights to Orlando for Epic Universe? Airfare to Orlando during Epic Universe's opening averages $209, an increase from $179 at around the same time last year, according to travel platform Hopper. In the summer, the price goes up to $217, about 8% higher than flights last summer. 'Prices for flights to Orlando from U.S. cities for the first 10 days of Epic Universe are 17% higher than the same 10 days last year,' Hayley Berg, Hopper's chief economist, said in a statement. 'This is not surprising, as airfares to Orlando are higher for all dates in May compared to last year.' Is there cheap airfare to Orlando this summer? Travelers can still score some flight deals during the peak summer season if they do a little sleuthing and are flexible with their dates. Here are some low airfares, according to New York City to Orlando for June 4-8: $238 round-trip (40% less than typical) Los Angeles to Orlando for June 1-7: $245 round-trip (40% less than typical) Atlanta to Orlando for June 2-6: $217 round-trip (40% less than typical) Chicago to Orlando for June 3-11: $217 round-trip (45% less than typical) Dallas to Orlando for June 12-17: $258 round-trip (40% less than typical) How much are hotel rates in Orlando for Epic Universe? Here are the per-night hotel rates at Universal properties for the peak summer dates of July 7-10, according to Universal's Loews Sapphire Falls Resort: $257 Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort: $177 Universal's Endless Summer Resort: Dockside Inn and Suites: $190 Universal's Endless Summer Resort: Surfside Inn and Suites: $196 How much are tickets to Epic Universe? Guests can purchase tickets for both single-day and multi-day admission. Single-day tickets for May are currently only available to annual passholders and guests who purchase a multi-day package, which includes one day or more at Universal's other parks and one day at Epic Universe. Single-day admission for visits beginning June 1 costs between $139 and $199, depending on the day. Contributing: Zach Wichter, USA TODAY
