Tourists take photos at Shinsekai with a view of Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka, Japan, on December 12, 2024.
Shin Ki-cheol | Nurphoto | getty images
Are you planning a trip abroad this year? If you’re willing to fly far, you might get lucky.
Long-distance travel has become cheaper than last year, according to data released this week by flight tracking company Hopper.
For example, by mid-2025, flights between the U.S. and Asia will average $1,087 this year, down 11% from last year, with capacity up 6% from 2024. European flights fell 6% to $754, according to Hopper data.
Flights to Africa and the Middle East were unchanged compared to last year, flights to South America decreased by 4% to $685, and flights from the United States to Mexico and Central America increased by 9% to $469.
Meanwhile, domestic ticket prices are rising as airlines become more cautious about increasing capacity in the U.S. and aircraft deliveries are delayed. boeing And Airbus.
But cheaper international travel has come as airlines have increased capacity to popular destinations and demand growth has leveled off compared to the post-pandemic surge that had travelers racing to book international trips after travel restrictions were lifted. Fares are higher as airlines face labor and aircraft shortages due to the pandemic.
European fares hit a multi-year low late last year as airlines increased capacity.
“We’re not at a point where there’s any pent-up demand left,” said Scott Keyes, founder of the travel app Going, formerly known as Scott’s Cheap Flights.
In many countries, including hotspot Japan, favorable exchange rates for travelers using the U.S. dollar have increased demand. Overseas visitors to Japan rose nearly 50% in the first 11 months of 2024 to 33.4 million, according to Japanese government data.
travel search site kayak Flights to Asia are the cheapest in at least three years, it said, as customer interest grows. Kayak said the Japanese cities of Tokyo, Sapporo and Osaka saw the largest increase in searches.
Tourists sit in front of a sign at Patong Beach next to the coast of Phuket Island, southern Thailand, on November 29, 2024.
Chanakhan Laosarakkam | AFP | getty images
Kayak also said airfares across the Caribbean are cheaper, with flights to the Dominican Republic (down 21% compared to last year), Barbados and St. Lucia (down 17% compared to last year).
Travelers flying this year are more interested in business class. deltawhich kicks off its 2025 airline earnings on Friday, generated profits.
Kayak estimates that searches for four-figure business class fares are up 19% over last year.
