Europe airfares tumble — but travellers worldwide still stay away: Here's why

Dubai: Flights across Europe are getting cheaper—but traveller appetite is falling just as fast. Airlines and travel platforms report significant airfare drops on key European routes, yet holidaymakers remain hesitant, even those based in the UAE.

Despite what should be a peak summer season, international carriers are struggling to fill seats. Instead of racing to grab last-minute deals, many UAE residents are holding off—partly due to fresh travel concerns, and partly because visa delays and regional disruptions are making European holidays harder to plan.

While European fares are falling, UAE travellers aren’t rushing to book. One major reason? Persistent delays in Schengen visa appointments. For popular destinations like France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, appointment slots at consulates remain booked out for weeks—or even months—making it nearly impossible to secure travel documents in time for summer trips.

“Many UAE travellers we speak to are eager to go to Europe, but frustrated by the long wait for visa appointments,” said one Dubai-based travel consultant. “Even those with confirmed air tickets are cancelling or rescheduling plans.”

Layered on top of the visa woes are ongoing flight disruptions tied to geopolitical tensions, including airspace rerouting due to the Iran-Israel conflict. Airlines operating in and out of Dubai are reshuffling flight paths and cancelling secondary routes, which is adding unpredictability—and turning off even more travellers from planning Europe getaways.

Across Europe, individual countries are showing different degrees of fare drops—but the trend is largely the same: fewer people are flying.

Germany and Denmark, for instance, are seeing some of the steepest declines in outbound travel demand. Transatlantic bookings from both countries to the United States have dropped by 4.4%, with forward bookings for July alone down nearly 13%. In response, airfares have tumbled. Routes such as Atlanta to London are now more than 50% cheaper than their summer 2023 highs.

In the broader EU, carriers are reporting a decline in leisure travel bookings—particularly among Gen Z and younger millennials. The European Travel Commission has flagged an 8% drop in holiday bookings across the bloc, prompting airlines like Ryanair and Air France-KLM to slash prices in an attempt to stimulate demand.

Even in the UK, where travel appetite remains relatively stronger, the effect is being felt. Select routes like Edinburgh to New York are now selling for under £404, especially when booked midweek or via indirect low-cost options. Consumers using tools like Skyscanner's Drops feature or flight alert apps are finding deals—but not necessarily jumping on them.

Airfare analysts note that these price dips aren’t a result of healthier airline economics, but rather a symptom of caution: post-pandemic behaviour, lingering inflationary pressures, and regional instability continue to dampen spontaneous travel decisions.

While the deals may look tempting on paper, travellers are showing signs of fatigue and hesitation. For UAE residents, the mix of visa delays, conflict-driven disruptions, and the fear of last-minute cancellations or rerouting has made the idea of a European summer break feel more risky than rewarding.

Across Europe, airspace congestion, staff shortages, and grounded aircraft tied up in detours are stretching airline operations thin. With priority going to long-haul or high-revenue routes, many UAE-Europe flights—especially those connecting through Istanbul, Frankfurt, or Vienna—are being rescheduled, cancelled, or made longer by rerouting.

For those still hoping to travel, industry experts suggest:

Europe may be more affordable this summer—but unless the Schengen bottleneck clears and air travel stabilises, UAE travellers might prefer to wait it out, rather than risk being caught mid-journey with rising uncertainty.