The major airlines in Europe, such as Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), have begun to reduce their flights to major U.S. cities.
Instead of traveling to New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago, companies are shifting their operations to more accessible and profitable destinations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, where the demand for tickets is rising and surpassing that of the United States.
The trend is influenced by several factors: the decrease in European passenger bookings to that country due to growing dissatisfaction with the immigration and trade policies of President Donald Trump, along with a perceived increase in insecurity.
Travel agencies in European cities are reporting a significant decline in demand for U.S. destinations, and airlines are adjusting their summer schedules to adapt to this new landscape.
Europeans seem to be more interested in destinations that offer smoother entry and fewer restrictions, which is making countries like Mexico, Brazil, and several in the Caribbean gain prominence.
Lufthansa cuts flights to the United States
Lufthansa, the largest airline in Germany and one of the biggest in Europe, confirmed a reduction in flight frequencies to cities such as New York, Miami, and Chicago, three of its most important destinations in the United States.
The company has redirected long-haul flights to markets with higher volumes of advance bookings, such as India, Japan, and Greece, as well as southern Europe and northern Africa.
British Airways and other airlines follow suit
British Airways also took similar measures, suspending its flights to Las Vegas and reducing its operations to Orlando and Philadelphia.
Instead, it added more flights to cities like Athens, Málaga, and Dubai, in response to the growing demand from British travelers for destinations without the political and immigration complications currently faced by the United States.
For its part, Air France has canceled its route to Seattle and reduced its flights to Washington D.C.
Meanwhile, KLM (Netherlands) has reduced its presence in San Francisco and Boston. The Dutch airline is expanding its operations to Asia and Europe, where demand remains high.
Iberia also reduced its flight offerings to Chicago and postponed the launch of a new route to Dallas, redirecting its planes towards Latin America and Southern Europe.
Impact on U.S. tourism,economic impact for the country
The change in flight routes reflects a widespread trend: international tourist bookings to the United States have decreased by 10% for the period from May to July, according to data from the research company Tourism Economics.
In the case of Canada, the decrease amounts to 33%.
The situation is further complicated by the negative perception of the immigration policies of the Trump administration, which, along with the tightening of border controls, has led many Europeans to avoid visiting the country.
The decline in European tourism is expected to have a significant impact on the U.S. economy.
It is estimated that international arrivals to the United States will decrease by 8.7% this year, resulting in a loss of up to $8.5 million that was previously generated from tourism.
These results undermine the sustained growth that the sector was showing after the pandemic.
The airlines' reaction: falling prices
In response to the decrease in demand, airlines have started to lower their prices, with discounts of up to 15% on certain routes, such as the one from Madrid to New York.
However, experts warn that this strategy may not be enough to counteract the decline in interest in traveling to the United States, especially when immigration policies and the political situation continue to create uncertainty among international tourists.
The Rise of Latin America and the Caribbean
Meanwhile, destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean are emerging as the big winners of this new era of international tourism.
Lufthansa, British Airways, and Iberia have increased their flights to cities in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and other Caribbean countries, where demand is strong and entry conditions are less restrictive than in the United States.
This reorientation of flights reflects a significant shift in the preferences of European travelers, who are now seeking more accessible destinations with fewer complications to enjoy their vacations.
In summary, transatlantic tourism faces a challenging scenario for the United States, while Latin America and the Caribbean are consolidating as new hotspots for European travelers.
European airlines, adapting to this change in preferences, are focusing on diversifying routes that reflect the new realities of the global tourism market.
By March, several travel agencies were reporting flight cancellations, and experts were discussing million-dollar losses for the sector.
An article from The New York Times attributed the decline of thousands of foreign tourists to the measures and statements by Trump that have driven them away, who are concerned about border detentions, the repatriation to their home countries without explanation, and the openly hostile rhetoric towards foreigners and immigrants.
At that time, cases became public, such as that of a scientist being turned away at the border for having critical messages about Trump on his phone, a British punk band deported from Los Angeles, and a Welsh backpacker detained for three weeks under questionable conditions.
These incidents created a global perception that visiting the United States could carry risks, even with an approved visa.
Frequently asked questions about the reduction of European airlines' flights to the United States
Why are European airlines reducing flights to the United States?
European airlines are reducing flights to the United States due to decreasing demand from European passengers and discontent with the immigration and trade policies of President Donald Trump. Airlines are redirecting their operations towards more accessible and profitable destinations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, where demand is on the rise.
Which European airlines are most affected by the decrease in demand for flights to the United States?
Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) are some of the European airlines most affected and have begun to cut back on their flights to U.S. cities such as New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago. These airlines are redirecting their operations towards markets with higher volumes of advance bookings.
What impact does the reduction of flights have on tourism and the economy of the United States?
The reduction of flights by European airlines is negatively impacting tourism and the economy of the United States. International tourist bookings to the country have dropped by 10% for the period from May to July, resulting in an estimated loss of up to 8.5 million dollars in tourism revenue. The negative perception of the immigration policies of the Trump administration has contributed to this trend.
What strategies are airlines adopting to counteract the decline in demand for flights to the United States?
Airlines have started lowering their prices with discounts of up to 15% on certain routes, such as the one from Madrid to New York, in an attempt to counteract the decline in demand. However, experts warn that this strategy may not be enough due to ongoing political uncertainty and restrictive immigration policies.
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