Latest news with #longHaulTravel
Hospitality Net
3 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Overseas Travel Intentions to Europe Soften for Summer 2025 amid Global Tensions and Rising Costs
The share of travellers planning a trip to Europe this summer has dipped from 41% in 2024 to 39% in 2025, reflecting a drop in enthusiasm across key long-haul markets such as the US, Brazil, Canada, and Japan. In sharp contrast, China's interest in Europe climbs to 72%, amid economic revival and shifting spending habits. High travel costs remain the top barrier across all analysed markets, cited by nearly half of those not planning a European trip. However, interest in earlier summer travel is rising, and travellers are shifting to mid-range daily budgets with food, activities, and shopping as key spending priorities. The latest edition of the Long-Haul Travel Barometer (LHTB 2/2025), published by the European Travel Commission (ETC) and Eurail BV, reveals a drop in long-haul travel sentiment to Europe for the summer season 2025. While global tourism continues to show resilience, growing cost concerns, geopolitical instability, and weakening consumer confidence are influencing consumer decisions across key markets. The latest survey finds 57% of respondents across major long-haul source markets plan to travel overseas between May and August 2025, a 1% decline compared to the same period last year. The intention to visit Europe specifically has dropped from 41% in 2024 to 39% this year, with sentiment softening most notably in the United States (-7%), Brazil (-6%), Canada (-5%), and Japan (-5%). However, China remains a standout. Driven by economic recovery and a shift in consumer values, 72% of Chinese respondents now say they plan to visit Europe this summer, a remarkable 10% increase year-on-year. Affordability concerns weaken travel intention The perception of high costs remains the most cited barrier to travel to Europe, mentioned by almost half of respondents not planning a trip to the region. This marks a significant 7% increase from last summer, reflecting growing price sensitivity amid inflation and exchange rate shifts. Among US and Brazilian respondents, where economic uncertainties and cost sensitivities are more acute, over half cite travel costs as the primary deterrent. Limited vacation time and preference for domestic holidays also remain important factors, especially in Japan, South Korea, and Australia. On a more reassuring note, concerns about the Russo-Ukrainian War have significantly declined — only 4% of respondents cited it as a barrier to European travel this summer. Mixed sentiment across regions Travel sentiment towards Europe is diverging across key long-haul markets. In the United States, 33% of respondents plan to visit Europe this summer. This represents a 7% decline from 2024, with rising costs and political concerns, including unease over how the US is perceived abroad, dampening enthusiasm. Brazilian interest has also declined compared to last year (-6%), yet 45% of respondents still intend to travel to Europe, with younger and higher-income travellers remaining the most enthusiastic. In Canada, sentiment is rebounding from the lower levels seen earlier this year but remains below summer 2024. Currently 37% of Canadian respondents are planning a European trip, down 5% from last year, as travel costs and geopolitical tensions continue to influence decision-making. Japanese respondents show the lowest interest in visiting Europe among all surveyed markets, with only 13% planning to visit Europe, down 5% from last year. This reflects the ongoing impact of a weak yen and subdued consumer confidence. In South Korea, overall long-haul travel sentiment remains stable. Only 30% of respondents are considering Europe, with preferences centred on France, Spain and Italy. Alongside China, Australia stands out as the only other market registering a clear increase in travel intent, with 40% of respondents now planning to travel to Europe, a 3% rise compared to last summer. Earlier departures and shifting budgets More travellers are choosing to travel earlier in the summer season this year. While July and August remain peak months for 46% of respondents, interest in May and June has grown from 24% in 2024 to 34% in 2025. Spending patterns are also shifting: the share of respondents planning to spend over €200 per day has dropped by 11%, while those expecting to spend €100–€200 per day has risen to 40%. Across all markets, dining remains the top budget priority (65%), followed by tourist activities and shopping. Transport budgets (41%) are also significant, likely reflecting the high number of multi-destination trips being planned — a trend that continues to define the appeal of European travel. Miguel Sanz, President of the European Travel Commission, commented: At a time of declining consumer confidence globally, it is more important than ever to strengthen Europe's position as a top destination. This means improving the competitiveness and accessibility of European experiences while continuing to showcase lesser-known destinations and off-season travel. With the right strategic focus, Europe can continue to deliver meaningful, high-quality tourism for visitors and residents alike. This project is co-funded by the European Union. The report can be downloaded here. About European Travel Commission Established in 1948, the European Travel Commission is a unique association in the travel sector, representing the National Tourism Organisations of the countries of Europe. Its mission is to strengthen the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination. In the last several decades, ETC has positioned itself at the forefront of the European tourism scene, establishing its expertise and building up partnerships in areas of tourism, based on promotion, market intelligence and best practice sharing. View source
Travel Daily News
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Summer 2025: Fewer travelers eye Europe amid rising costs
The share of travellers planning a trip to Europe this summer has dipped from 41% in 2024 to 39% in 2025, reflecting a drop in enthusiasm across key long-haul markets such as the US, Brazil, Canada and Japan. BRUSSELS – The latest edition of the Long-Haul Travel Barometer (LHTB 2/2025), published by the European Travel Commission (ETC) and Eurail BV, reveals a drop in long-haul travel sentiment to Europe for the summer season 2025. While global tourism continues to show resilience, growing cost concerns, geopolitical instability, and weakening consumer confidence are influencing consumer decisions across key markets. The latest survey finds 57% of respondents across major long-haul source markets plan to travel overseas between May and August 2025, a 1% decline compared to the same period last year. The intention to visit Europe specifically has dropped from 41% in 2024 to 39% this year, with sentiment softening most notably in the United States (-7%), Brazil (-6%), Canada (-5%), and Japan (-5%). However, China remains a standout. Driven by economic recovery and a shift in consumer values, 72% of Chinese respondents now say they plan to visit Europe this summer, a remarkable 10% increase year-on-year. Affordability concerns weaken travel intention The perception of high costs remains the most cited barrier to travel to Europe, mentioned by almost half of respondents not planning a trip to the region. This marks a significant 7% increase from last summer, reflecting growing price sensitivity amid inflation and exchange rate shifts. Among US and Brazilian respondents, where economic uncertainties and cost sensitivities are more acute, over half cite travel costs as the primary deterrent. Limited vacation time and preference for domestic holidays also remain important factors, especially in Japan, South Korea, and Australia. On a more reassuring note, concerns about the Russo-Ukrainian War have significantly declined – only 4% of respondents cited it as a barrier to European travel this summer. Mixed sentiment across regions Travel sentiment towards Europe is diverging across key long-haul markets. In the United States, 33% of respondents plan to visit Europe this summer. This represents a 7% decline from 2024, with rising costs and political concerns, including unease over how the US is perceived abroad, dampening enthusiasm. Brazilian interest has also declined compared to last year (-6%), yet 45% of respondents still intend to travel to Europe, with younger and higher-income travellers remaining the most enthusiastic. In Canada, sentiment is rebounding from the lower levels seen earlier this year but remains below summer 2024. Currently 37% of Canadian respondents are planning a European trip, down 5% from last year, as travel costs and geopolitical tensions continue to influence decision-making. Japanese respondents show the lowest interest in visiting Europe among all surveyed markets, with only 13% planning to visit Europe, down 5% from last year. This reflects the ongoing impact of a weak yen and subdued consumer confidence. In South Korea, overall long-haul travel sentiment remains stable. Only 30% of respondents are considering Europe, with preferences centred on France, Spain and Italy. Alongside China, Australia stands out as the only other market registering a clear increase in travel intent, with 40% of respondents now planning to travel to Europe, a 3% rise compared to last summer. Earlier departures and shifting budgets More travellers are choosing to travel earlier in the summer season this year. While July and August remain peak months for 46% of respondents, interest in May and June has grown from 24% in 2024 to 34% in 2025. Spending patterns are also shifting: the share of respondents planning to spend over €200 per day has dropped by 11%, while those expecting to spend €100–€200 per day has risen to 40%. Across all markets, dining remains the top budget priority (65%), followed by tourist activities and shopping. Transport budgets (41%) are also significant, likely reflecting the high number of multi-destination trips being planned – a trend that continues to define the appeal of European travel. Miguel Sanz, President of the European Travel Commission, commented: 'At a time of declining consumer confidence globally, it is more important than ever to strengthen Europe's position as a top destination. This means improving the competitiveness and accessibility of European experiences while continuing to showcase lesser-known destinations and off-season travel. With the right strategic focus, Europe can continue to deliver meaningful, high-quality tourism for visitors and residents alike.'
The National
08-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Emirates posts $5.8 billion in record annual profit on bumper travel demand
Dubai's Emirates, the world's biggest long-haul airline, posted an increase of 20 per cent in record annual profit before tax as long-haul travel demand held strong despite geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty. The airline recorded Dh21.2 billion ($5.8 billion) in pre-tax profit for the financial year ending March 31, it said on Thursday. Revenue rose by 6 per cent to Dh127.9 billion ($34.9 billion) as it carried more passengers through its Dubai headquarters. "It is no accident that Dubai has produced hugely successful global aviation entities including Emirates and dnata. Dubai's aviation sector has become an influential force on the global stage," said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and group. "We don't cut corners, and we don't take shortcuts that put our future at risk for short term gains." The state-owned airline benefitted from major passenger flows through Dubai despite the aviation industry grappling with geopolitical tension in the Middle East and economic uncertainties arising from US President Donald Trump's trade policies. While the US tariffs announcement was made on April 2, after the airline's financial year ended, the lead up to it was paved with widespread speculation and uncertainty. The airline previously said that it was used to coping with disruptions such as geopolitical instability, recessions, currency fluctuations and volatile fuel prices. Dubai recorded a 3 per cent annual increase in international visitor numbers to 5.31 million in the first three months of the year, according to government data. The city attracted 18.7 million international tourists in 2024, up 9 per cent annually. Dubai International Airport recorded a 1.5 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger traffic in the first quarter. The world's busiest international airport handled 23.4 million passengers in the first three months of the year, as it also continued to boost investments in infrastructure and technology. To accommodate the future growth in passengers, Dubai is building a $35 billion terminal at its second airport, Al Maktoum International, which will eventually become home to Emirates airline's operations. Emirates, which serves more than 140 destinations with a fleet mix of Boeing 777, Airbus A380 and Airbus A350 aircraft, has a large number of planes on order, mainly Boeing 777X wide-bodies. The airline expects to receive the long-delayed jets in the second half of next year. It also expects to receive between 12 and 15 A350s by the end of this year. In the meantime, it is retrofitting about 90 per cent of its fleet to refresh older planes and keep them flying for longer.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- The Sun
I flew long-haul on little-known airline with UK flights – I saved £1,400 and got premium seats for economy prices
TRAVELLING long haul is always tough and not just on your body but your wallet too. However, on a recent trip to Cape Town I flew with a little-known airline that allowed me to do the 11-hour overnight stint in Premium Economy for the same price as a rival company in Economy seats. 7 7 Norse Atlantic Airways is a budget airline that bought Boeing 787-9 planes from Norwegian Air after their long-haul arm folded in January 2021. And they're carrying on their legacy of cheap fares to exotic destinations - albeit flying to fewer places than Norwegian. Norse offers six long-haul destinations, including Miami, New York, Bangkok and Cape Town. To give you an idea of price, return fares for two adults and one child in premium economy cost £3,583 to Cape Town next March, while return fares in Premium Economy on a rival airline cost £5,000. Keen to test it out, we flew to the South African city in their posh Premium seats and returned in Basic Economy. So what do those Premium Economy seats get you on an 11-hour Norse flight? Well it starts with a priority lane at check-in. Norse doesn't do online check-in - everyone checks in at the airport. And Premium passengers are given their own lane, so we waited about five minutes before dropping off our bags and getting our tickets. You get a small handbag, a cabin bag and a checked suitcase included in the price of a Premium ticket. You also get priority boarding, which I'm not normally a fan of given I have a young child who needs to let off steam before a flight, but given our seats were massive, it was worth it. Which brings me to the cabin. Cabin extras Best Value Winter Sun Long Haul Destinations Norse's premium cabin isn't quite Virgin Atlantic or BA's Premium Economy, but equally they aren't asking close to those prices. Most importantly, the chairs are very roomy. With a very decent recline that allowed my whole family to get a decent night's sleep. My son pretty much slept uninterrupted from 10pm to 7am, while I snatched a manageable 5ish hours, which is far more than I've ever done before in Economy on a long haul flight. Crew hand over ear plugs, eye masks, pillows and blankets at the start of the flight, as well as headphones for the TVs (you have to pay £5 for these in Economy). Two meals are also included - I had a decent tortellini, side salad and cheesecake-type evening meal with complimentary wine, and a hot cooked breakfast, plus a croissant, yogurt and mini fruit salad. All in all, we disembarked from the flight at 8.30am feeling so well-rested that we managed a whole day at the beach in Cape Town, followed by an evening meal. Economy savings Of course, Norse's Economy cabin is considerably cheaper. And that is how we returned to the UK - on their 11-hour daytime flight - which takes off at 10.45am and lands at 9.35pm at London Gatwick. 7 7 7 An Economy flight to Cape Town on Norse costs from £182, but the cabin is definitely no frills - although you do get a TV and access to the in-flight entertainment system (you have to pay a fiver for the headphones, but you can also use your own). The seats are considerably slimmer - it's a 3-4-4 configuration, compared to 2-3-2 in Premium, but we booked seats on the bulkhead row, which gave us so much legroom that my toes just about touched the wall in front when my legs were outstretched. Given I'm 5ft10, that's a considerable amount of leg room and it made the very long flight much easier to manage, for £100 extra. There were no blankets though, or pillows, eye marks and ear plugs. And the full meals had to be pre-ordered and paid for. We ditched these, and opted to feed ourselves from the snack menu, as they serve hot sandwiches and pot noodle-type offerings, which kept us full. Given I'll happily tuck into a shin cup for lunch when WFH, this was hardly a hardship. The staff have to work hard on Norse flights, as they're constantly pushing their trolleys down the aisle to sell food and drinks to passengers. But they're a cheerful bunch. And to be honest, so were we… even after our 11-hour return in Economy. Because when you're saving hundreds of pounds per fare, it's hard not to feel chipper. How to get a free upgrade to first class on a plane Travelers often wonder how to secure an upgrade to first class without paying the premium price. According to a flight attendant, there are several strategies passengers can employ to increase their chances. Firstly, loyalty to an airline is crucial; frequent flyers and those with elite status are more likely to receive upgrades. Additionally, booking directly with the airline rather than through third-party sites can improve your odds, as can being flexible with your travel dates and times. Dressing smartly and arriving early can also make a difference. While airlines generally prioritize upgrades based on status and fare class, a well-dressed passenger who checks in early may catch the staff's attention. It's also beneficial to be polite and friendly to the airline staff, as they have the discretion to upgrade passengers at their own judgment. Lastly, if you're celebrating a special occasion, such as a honeymoon or birthday, it doesn't hurt to mention it. While not guaranteed, some flight attendants might consider this when deciding on upgrades. Overall, while there's no surefire way to get a free upgrade, combining these strategies can certainly improve your chances.
