Air France-KLM and Lufthansa see falling demand for US travel

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Key Takeaways

Major European airlines are facing new challenges as they see fewer people booking flights from Europe to the United States 🇺🇸 . Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic have all reported a drop in demand for these routes. In contrast, more Americans are booking flights to visit Europe 🇪🇺 than before, showing that travel interest is not evenly matched across the Atlantic.

Let’s look at what’s going on, why these trends are happening, and how they could impact travelers, airlines, and anyone interested in US travel.

Air France-KLM and Lufthansa see falling demand for US travel

What Are the Latest Booking Trends?

The decline in US travel from Europe 🇪🇺 is not just a minor dip. It reflects some large changes in how people are planning their trips. Air France-KLM said that bookings for flights from Europe to the United States 🇺🇸 are down by 2.4% for May and June 2025 compared to the same months last year. This shows many European travelers are thinking twice before booking a trip to the US.

While fewer Europeans are flying to the United States 🇺🇸 , the interest from Americans traveling to Europe 🇪🇺 has gone up. Bookings for flights from the US to Europe have risen by 2.1%. This means while people in the US are still eager to explore European countries, those living in Europe are taking a step back from visiting the US.

Lufthansa, another important airline for these routes, has described this change as a “slight weakening” in demand for summer flights to the US, especially from Germany 🇩🇪, Austria 🇦🇹, and Switzerland 🇨🇭. To handle this, Lufthansa is lowering its forecast for growth on routes between Europe and the United States 🇺🇸. Instead of expecting these flights to grow by 6% in the last quarter of 2025, they now predict growth of only 3%. Virgin Atlantic has reported similar trends, pointing out that bookings to the United States 🇺🇸 are also slowing down for them.

Industry experts note that these drops are not equal in every European country. Official US data shows that in March 2025, the number of Europeans visiting the United States 🇺🇸 fell by 17% compared to the previous year. Some countries were hit even harder, with visits from Ireland 🇮🇪, Norway 🇳🇴, and Germany 🇩🇪 shrinking by more than 20%. So, for European airlines, especially Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, this change represents a big challenge.

Why Are Europeans Avoiding US Travel?

The reasons for this shift are not simple, but several important factors are at play.

1. Economic and Policy Worries
Uncertainty about border policies and the wider economy in the United States 🇺🇸 is making European travelers hesitant. When rules about who can enter the country change often or quickly, it’s hard for people to feel safe about booking a trip in advance. Travelers sometimes worry they might not be able to enter the country, or that new tariffs will make everything more expensive while they are there.

2. Concerns Over Border and Immigration Rules
During the Trump administration, the United States 🇺🇸 adopted new immigration and border control rules. Many people from Europe saw these changes as strict, or even harsh. There have been increased checks at the border, and more talk about deporting visitors who do not follow the rules exactly. This made some would-be tourists feel nervous about planning travel. For many, the idea that being turned away or facing trouble at the airport is a real risk outweighs the fun of holiday plans.

3. Changes in How People Feel About Travel
It’s not just about government policy. Lufthansa’s CEO, Carsten Spohr, has pointed out that families are talking seriously about whether traveling to the United States 🇺🇸 is the right choice. Some decide it’s not worth the worry, leading to lower bookings. For these travelers, issues around safety, welcome, and the political atmosphere matter just as much as price.

VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals this situation is having a visible effect on some countries. Ireland 🇮🇪, Norway 🇳🇴, and Germany 🇩🇪 have seen the sharpest drops, with more than one in five usual visitors deciding not to make the trip in March 2025.

How Are Airlines Reacting?

These trends have forced airlines like Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic to make some quick decisions.

1. Adjusting Schedules and Planning Ahead
Lufthansa has already set up a special team to change flight plans if demand keeps dropping. This means they can cancel some flights, combine routes, or use smaller planes where needed. It’s a way to avoid flying half-empty planes, which lose money.

2. Lowering Ticket Prices
To get more people interested, airlines are slashing fares on US travel from Europe. Reports show that on some routes, ticket prices are less than half what they would usually be for the summertime. For travelers who still want to visit the US, this could be a good chance to grab a bargain. But lower prices don’t always bring back uneasy travelers, especially those worried about the latest rules at the US border.

3. Forecasts For The Year Remain Strong
Even though demand is down now, airlines like Air France-KLM and Lufthansa have not changed their predictions for the year as a whole. They hope that after a few months, things will improve.

Lufthansa’s CEO remains hopeful. He has observed that political talk about tariffs between Europe 🇪🇺 and the United States 🇺🇸 has become less intense. “The discussions about tariffs are no longer as heated as they were four weeks ago. That is why we believe that some of these bookings will be recovered in the coming weeks,” he said. If the climate improves, some travelers may regain their confidence and return.

Why Does This Matter So Much?

For many European airlines, flights between Europe and the United States 🇺🇸 are key to making a profit. According to banking group Barclays, flights to the US bring in about half of the profits for big “flag carrier” airlines like Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and IAG (owner of British Airways). When demand for these flights falls, the bottom line for these companies is affected.

This problem is especially hard for Air France-KLM and Lufthansa because they compete with US airlines for passengers. If European airlines can’t fill seats between Europe and the United States 🇺🇸, they make less money. Fewer bookings can lead to fewer flights, price wars between airlines, and, if the trend lasts too long, job cuts for airline employees.

It’s not just airlines that feel the impact. US hotels, tour companies, stores, and cities also could lose millions in spending from European visitors. States like New York, California, and Florida depend on foreign tourists for many businesses.

What Does This Mean For Travelers?

If you are planning a trip from Europe 🇪🇺 to the United States 🇺🇸, there may be some benefits right now, such as lower flight prices and less crowded airplanes. At the same time, it’s important to be aware of the new rules and policies at the US border. Anyone who plans to visit the US should check the latest travel and entry requirements. You can find up-to-date official information on rules for entering the United States 🇺🇸 at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

It’s also a good idea to look at what each airline is saying about their routes and schedules. Some flights may be changed, combined, or even canceled on short notice if demand keeps going down.

For Americans thinking about trips to Europe 🇪🇺, the news is more positive. There are more options and, in some cases, more flights being offered to meet high demand. European destinations remain very attractive for US travelers, even as the opposite flow slows down.

The Bigger Picture: How Policy and Sentiment Influence Travel

Travel trends aren’t shaped by prices and plane schedules alone. Political talk and news can have a real effect on whether people want to visit a country.

Uncertainty makes people nervous: When border policies or visa rules change quickly, people may fear being turned away or having difficulties when they arrive.
Economic concerns play a part: If people expect a trip to cost more because of things like tariffs or new taxes, they may choose other destinations.
Safety and how visitors feel they’ll be treated: Potential visitors are paying attention to stories about how welcoming a country is, and if visitors are being sent back more often.

These issues are not unique to the United States 🇺🇸 . However, because US travel has always been popular with Europeans, even small changes in policy or public feeling can have a big impact.

Differing Views and Controversy

Some airline officials express hope that things will soon return to normal if political talk continues to calm down. Others warn that even if the rules become less strict, it may take time for European customers to feel confident again.

There are those who blame unpredictable border and visa policies in the United States 🇺🇸 for the downturn. Others say that economic challenges in Europe 🇪🇺, such as lower disposable incomes, may also be a part of the problem. But the sharpness of the decline, especially among certain nationalities, suggests that sentiment about travel to the US has changed, at least for now.

Long-Term Outlook

Airlines are waiting to see if this downturn in Europe-to-US travel is a short-term bump or signs of a bigger shift. If fewer Europeans keep coming to the United States 🇺🇸 over the long term, airlines may have to change how they do business. They might move planes to other profitable routes, cut some US flights, or focus more on serving American travelers coming to Europe 🇪🇺.

For now, major airlines like Air France-KLM and Lufthansa are keeping a close watch on bookings. Some are holding tight to their yearly forecasts, betting that things will settle down as the year goes on.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

European airlines including Air France-KLM and Lufthansa are facing serious challenges as demand for US travel from Europe 🇪🇺 drops. The reasons for this decline are tied to economic worries, new border policies, and how travelers feel about visiting the United States 🇺🇸.

On the bright side, this trend has led to lower fares, which could be good news for some travelers. However, ongoing uncertainty means that anyone planning US travel from Europe should stay updated on the latest policies and airline schedules.

As airlines adapt to these trends—by lowering fares, tweaking schedules, and watching political developments—travelers also need to be flexible. Keeping an eye on official sources for the latest travel guidance can help avoid trouble or disappointment.

As this story develops, Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and the entire industry will keep changing their approach to match what travelers want and what the world situation allows. For more details and updates on border and visa policies, travelers can always check the official U.S. Customs and Border Protection page for the latest advice and forms.

In short, while American travelers are eager to visit Europe 🇪🇺, European travel to the United States 🇺🇸 has hit a rough patch. How long this trend lasts, and what it means for the future of global travel, is something that airlines and travelers alike will be watching very closely.