If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to visit Paris, Rome, or London, that moment has arrived. Airlines are offering incredible deals on flights to/from Europe, with some routes seeing price drops of up to 55% compared to last year. The average round-trip ticket to Europe this summer costs just $817 — the same price travelers paid back in 2019.
Why are Europe flights so cheap right now?
Largely thanks to the Trump administration, European travelers are skipping US travel in record numbers, leaving airlines with empty seats they’re desperate to fill. Travel from Western Europe to the U.S. dropped 4.4% in May alone, with countries like Germany, Denmark, and France seeing double-digit declines in visitors to America.
This dramatic shift in travel patterns has created a buyer’s market for American travelers. Airlines that normally count on European passengers for their transatlantic routes are now aggressively courting U.S. customers with steep discounts. Translation: Book that European vacation now.
The numbers don’t lie: The deals are genuinely spectacular
Average round-trip economy airfares across more than 50 U.S.-to-Europe routes dropped 7% in the first quarter, with standout bargains like Atlanta to London down a whopping 55%. Summer prices to Europe are down 10% from last year, saving travelers about $96 per ticket.
According to travel booking app Hopper, “good deal” fares to Europe are hitting $578 in November — the lowest for this month since 2021. Even better, January 2025 fares are averaging just $558, making winter European getaways incredibly affordable.
Major carriers are feeling the pinch and responding with aggressive pricing. Air France KLM’s CEO openly admitted the airline is slashing prices to fill transatlantic cabins. Lufthansa expects continued weak demand, meaning more deals for savvy travelers. As one industry expert put it, airlines are having to “juice the demand” with unprecedented price cuts.
Best destinations for maximum savings
While deals exist across the board, certain routes are seeing particularly dramatic reductions:
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London routes: Some flights down 55% year-over-year
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Germany: Major price drops as German travel to the U.S. plummets
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Nordic countries: Denmark’s reduced travel creates opportunities
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France: 9% decline in French visitors means more seats for Americans
How to maximize your savings
The key is acting now while airlines are still struggling to fill seats. Travel experts recommend:
Book for shoulder seasons: Airlines have added more off-peak flights to Europe, creating deals even outside traditional discount periods.
Consider lesser-known destinations: With Europeans exploring fewer mainstream destinations, airlines are offering competitive pricing to emerging European hotspots.
Be flexible with dates: With reduced European demand, you have more leverage to find the perfect price-date combination.
The bottom line for travelers
This situation represents a perfect storm for American travelers seeking European adventures. While the aviation industry struggles with reduced European demand, smart travelers can take advantage of pricing that hasn’t been seen in years.
Airlines are essentially competing for your business like never before, making this the ideal time to book that long-awaited European vacation. With fares back to 2019 levels despite inflation affecting everything else, these deals represent genuine value that may not last once travel patterns normalize.
Don’t wait, as these historically low prices exist because airlines need to fill seats now, not later. If demand isn’t met, routes will simply be cut — and so will the deals.
