Aviation industry warns travellers of soaring fares

The price of air travel looks likely to keep rising in 2025 after significant increases last year, according to carriers and industry analysts.

The British Retail Consortium warns that inflation had hit “its highest point in almost a year, driven by rising food inflation and air fares.”

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics earlier reported a 7.3% increase in fares to Europe for 2024, while the European Travel Commission (ETC) and Eurail this month published a survey showing travellers from Asia, South America and the US as less likely to fly to Europe than last year.

“Affordability remains the most significant barrier to international travel, cited by 46% of respondents not planning a European trip,” the ETC and Eurail says.

And while many in Europe and other continents could look to budget airlines and holidays closer to home, those fares are also facing a rise as airlines claim the need to cover spiralling operating costs.

Jet2, a UK-based airline and travel company, warned on February 19 of soaring operating costs in areas such as aircraft maintenance, airport fees and fuel.

In late 2024, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a Geneva-based industry organization representing around 300 airlines, warned that aircraft manufacturers were not making enough jets to keep up with demand and airports were not maintaining capacity – supply chain hiccups that are likely to add to airlines’ costs and be in turn passed on to passengers.

The price of air travel looks likely to keep rising in 2025 after significant increases last year, according to carriers and industry analysts.

The British Retail Consortium warns that inflation had hit “its highest point in almost a year, driven by rising food inflation and air fares.”

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics earlier reported a 7.3% increase in fares to Europe for 2024, while the European Travel Commission (ETC) and Eurail this month published a survey showing travellers from Asia, South America and the US as less likely to fly to Europe than last year.

“Affordability remains the most significant barrier to international travel, cited by 46% of respondents not planning a European trip,” the ETC and Eurail says.

And while many in Europe and other continents could look to budget airlines and holidays closer to home, those fares are also facing a rise as airlines claim the need to cover spiralling operating costs.

Jet2, a UK-based airline and travel company, warned on February 19 of soaring operating costs in areas such as aircraft maintenance, airport fees and fuel.

In late 2024, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a Geneva-based industry organization representing around 300 airlines, warned that aircraft manufacturers were not making enough jets to keep up with demand and airports were not maintaining capacity – supply chain hiccups that are likely to add to airlines’ costs and be in turn passed on to passengers.