US Flights Cut: Airline Boss Response
- Several major European airlines, including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, are reporting a decrease in demand for transatlantic flights to the United States.
- for travel between May and July is projected to be around 10%, possibly leading to an $8.5 billion reduction in U.S.
- Ben Smith, Air france-KLM chief executive, noted that customers are hesitant to purchase tickets due to uncertainty surrounding border policies.
european airlines are responding to a decline in transatlantic flight demand to the U.S., sparking route adjustments adn revenue concerns. Airlines like Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are rerouting aircraft amid a projected 10% drop in bookings from Europe to the U.S. between May and July—perhaps leading to an $8.5 billion loss in U.S. tourism revenue for 2025. Industry leaders cite current U.S. foreign policy and border policy uncertainty as key factors.News Directory 3 explores how shifting demand is impacting airlines. Discover what airlines are doing right now.
European Airlines Report Decline in Transatlantic Flights to U.S.
Updated May 25, 2025
Several major European airlines, including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, are reporting a decrease in demand for transatlantic flights to the United States. This decline in transatlantic flight demand is impacting airline revenue, prompting route adjustments and raising concerns among industry leaders.
The drop in bookings from Europe to the U.S. for travel between May and July is projected to be around 10%, possibly leading to an $8.5 billion reduction in U.S. tourism revenue from international visitors in 2025,according to data from Travel and Tour World.As a result, airlines are rerouting aircraft to areas with stronger demand, such as Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, to offset losses from decreased transatlantic travel.
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Ben Smith, Air france-KLM chief executive, noted that customers are hesitant to purchase tickets due to uncertainty surrounding border policies. Steven Zaat, the company’s CFO, added that while demand for flights to the U.S. has decreased, demand for U.S. flights to Europe has increased.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr acknowledged a “slight weakening” in bookings for U.S.-bound flights, especially from German, Austrian, and Swiss markets. He suggested families are reconsidering vacation plans to the U.S.
“When it comes to vacation trips to the U.S, especially from the German, Austrian and Swiss markets, it’s easy to imagine conversations around the kitchen table where families are saying, ‘We don’t know yet if we really want to go.”
Carsten Spohr, CEO of Lufthansa
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian addressed the issue, stating, “Ther’s a political question in the U.S. around immigration, but we need to make certain that people feel cozy coming here.”
“There’s a political question in the U.S. around immigration, but we need to make certain that people feel comfortable coming here.”
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines
What’s next
Further route adjustments are anticipated as airlines finalize their summer schedules. Cirium, an aviation data firm, reported that six airlines have already adjusted eight Europe-U.S. routes in the past month, indicating ongoing efforts to adapt to changing travel patterns and the decline in transatlantic flight demand.