Cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages have become more plentiful to Europe indicating that airlines are now projecting less trans-Atlantic traffic this summer. Airfares to certain European cities from the U.S. have dropped significantly, by as much as 68 percent, since January.
Travel experts believe that the price decline is due previously anticipated strong travel to Europe that has not materialized. Americans voted with their pocketbooks not to fly to Europe in great numbers earlier this year given the high prices that were being quoted at the time.
Airlines fear that they may have to drop their prices even further if potential travelers are scared off from making plans to visit Europe because of all the press about the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland that forced European airports to shut down recently.
Some of the destinations showing the biggest price drops for late spring and early summer include London, Rome and Paris. Interestingly, prices to other destinations including Amsterdam, Athens, Brussels, Copenhagen, and Vienna, have not dropped since January.
Typically, flying during the hectic summer season costs more. However, even peak fares are down at select popular destinations. Currently Los Angeles to London flights can be purchased for $711 vs. $871 in January. Currently round trip fares in July are more than double the prices being quoted for travel in May to many cities.
www.cheapfares.com