Travelers Get Good News From Major Airlines
Travelers are getting some good news from major airlines.
According to an April 26, 2025, article by CNBC, the prices of airline tickets are dropping because of sluggish sales.
Major carriers "are turning to off-peak fare sales and cutting excess capacity in the second half of the year," CNBC reported.
Airfares dropped 5.3% in March 2025 and 4% in February, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The airlines expressing concern about weak travel sales include American, Delta, United, and Southwest Airlines, according to CNBC.
The airline executives blamed tariff wars and "economic uncertainty" for weak sales, CNBC reported.
“Nobody really relishes uncertainty when they’re talking about what they could do on a vacation and spend hard-earned dollars,” American Airlines' CEO Robert Isom said on an earnings call, according to CNBC.
The result of all of this is that the airlines have more seats to sell, so they're expected to drop prices, the network noted.
Average travel costs "are 2% lower than they were this time in 2024," according to NerdWallet's Travel Price Index.
That index looks at more than airline ticket prices. It includes "airfares, lodging, meals and rental cars," according to Nerd Wallet.
Nerd Wallet reported that the decline in travel costs is coming at a good time for many Americans, as they shoulder rising costs in other areas.
Thrifty Traveler also noted the trend, writing, "The start of spring has been special. We've repeatedly seen airlines slash prices on many routes for travel in the next few months."
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