Tourists take photos at Shinsekai with Tsutenkaku Tower in view in Osaka, Japan, on December 12, 2024.
Kihul Shin | Nurfoto | Getty Images
Are you planning an international trip this year? If you are willing to fly far, you may be lucky.
Long-haul travel is cheaper than last year, according to data released this week by flight tracking company Hopper.
For example, through mid-2025, flights between the US and Asia are down 11% this year compared to last year, averaging $1,087, while capacity is up 6% compared to 2024. Flights in Europe are up 6 % down to $754, Hopper data shows.
Flights to Africa and the Middle East are flat compared to last year, while flights to South America are down 4% to $685, and flights to Mexico and Central America from the US are up 9% to $469.
Meanwhile, U.S. domestic ticket prices are rising as airlines have become more cautious about U.S. capacity growth and face delays in aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus.
But the cheaper international travel comes as airlines have increased capacity to popular destinations and demand growth has leveled off from post-pandemic peaks, when travelers rushed to book trips abroad after travel restrictions were lifted. Fares were higher as airlines faced labor and aircraft shortages due to the pandemic.
As airlines have increased capacity, European fares at the end of last year were the lowest in years.
“You're certainly not at a point now where there's any demand left,” said Scott Keyes, founder of travel app Going, formerly known as Scott's Cheap Flights.
Favorable exchange rates for travelers using US dollars in many countries, including hotspot Japan, have increased demand. According to Japanese government data, the number of international visitors to Japan increased by almost 50% to almost 33.4 million people in the first eleven months of 2024.
Travel search site Kayaking said flights to Asia are the cheapest in at least three years, as customer interest increases. The Japanese cities of Tokyo, Sapporo and Osaka are showing the largest percentage increase in searches, Kayak noted.
Tourists sit in front of the Patong Beach sign on the coast on the southern Thai island of Phuket on November 29, 2024.
Chanakarn Laosarakham | AFP | Getty Images
It also said airfares in the Caribbean are lower, with cheaper tickets to Dominica (down 21% from last year), and Barbados and St. Lucia down 17% from last year, Kayak said.
Travelers flying this year are also more interested in business class, a trend that is making airlines happy Deltawhich launches airline earnings for 2025 on Friday have benefited.
Kayak estimates that searches for four-digit business class fares are up 19% from last year.