Airlines stretch Europe schedules as travelers shift away from summer
U.S. carriers are adding Europe flights in fall and winter as heat, crowds and costs push more travelers beyond the traditional summer peak.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
4 min read
U.S. airlines are extending international schedules into fall and winter as more travelers avoid the hottest, most crowded and most expensive months in Europe. The shift matters for carriers because higher fuel costs are squeezing profits while premium international routes remain a key source of revenue.
CNBC reported that airlines are adding capacity in shoulder seasons and, in some cases, during periods that were once treated as off-peak. Flights to European vacation spots that used to be concentrated from late spring through late summer are now beginning earlier and ending later.
American Airlines started its New York-to-Edinburgh service in March, according to CNBC. United Airlines plans to keep its Newark-to-Palermo, Sicily, nonstop route running until December, while Delta Air Lines’ Minneapolis-to-Rome service is scheduled to continue into January.
The International Air Transport Association has said a jump in jet fuel is expected to cut $100 billion from airline profits this year, CNBC reported. Airlines have trimmed weaker routes and executives have said strong demand has allowed them to pass along some, though not all, of those costs.
Europe demand spreads beyond summer
Delta President Peter Carter told CNBC that international travel patterns used to be more sharply divided between strong and weak seasons. He said Europe now draws solid demand across more of the year because many destinations can still offer good trips outside summer.
United network planning executive Patrick Quayle described the shift to CNBC as a spreading of the shoulder season into what had been the main season. Shoulder season is the stretch between a destination’s peak and low travel periods.
Airlines have a financial reason to test longer schedules. CNBC reported that trans-Atlantic flights often use larger aircraft with more premium seating than domestic routes, including lie-flat business-class seats. Some business-class round trips on those routes can cost about $10,000, compared with less than half that on a domestic route.
Kayak data cited by CNBC showed U.S.-Athens round-trip fares at $988 on June 22, compared with $810 a year earlier and $1,350 two months before. Overall airfare is higher than last year as carriers try to offset rising costs, CNBC reported, though some prices have eased ahead of the post-July summer slowdown.
Heat, crowds and flexible work reshape trips
CNBC pointed to Europe’s late-June heat wave as one reason travelers may look beyond summer. Record temperatures hit parts of Europe, where air conditioning is less common, and misting stations appeared in cities including Warsaw and Rome. Paris postponed its LGBTQ+ Pride march and briefly banned public alcohol consumption, according to CNBC.
Overcrowding is also affecting travel choices. CNBC reported that residents in cities including Barcelona and Venice have raised concerns about visitor numbers during peak periods and beyond, while European countries continue to draw record tourism.
Travel flexibility is another factor. Delta international network planning executive Jeff Arinder told CNBC the carrier is trying to reduce seasonality and is even shifting some maintenance into summer to keep planes available in fall. He said Delta’s core customer base tends to be older and wealthier, giving some passengers more freedom to choose travel dates.
Sicily becomes a winter test
United is extending Newark-Palermo service through Dec. 16 using Boeing 767s, CNBC reported. The route will operate three times a week, even though Sicily is commonly sold as a summer destination and many coastal hotels close in winter.
Imelda Shllaku, manager of the Four Seasons San Domenico Palace in Taormina, told CNBC that U.S. guest bookings in March, April, October and November have risen sharply over the past four years. She said wealthier travelers are seeking cultural experiences better suited to Sicily’s shoulder season.
Delta is also stretching Sicily service. CNBC reported that the airline plans to run New York JFK-to-Catania flights through Jan. 3, compared with an Oct. 24 ending last year, and resume the route on March 8, 2027.
American Airlines network planning chief Brian Znotins told CNBC that October is becoming a peak month for the carrier’s Europe business, though January and February remain weaker months. Alaska Airlines President and Chief Financial Officer Shane Tackett also told CNBC that travelers are becoming more flexible, helping make longer international seasons more practical.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.