The incredible reason why flights are so cheap in 2025 and what destinations to choose from the U.S.
Flights are considerably cheaper in 2025 compared to last year and experts think prices could go lower. So, when should you book your plane tickets?
The busy summer travel months are approaching and many of those looking to catch a flight to get away on holiday are finding a friendly surprise, lower tickets prices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics airfares were down nearly 8% in April 2025 compared with the same period last year.
So, what is driving down the cost of flying? And which destinations will you get the best deal? Furthermore, where will prices go for the rest of the year? Here we have a look.
The reason why flights are so cheap in 2025
A series of factors have been driving airfare down this year according to the experts. One is the economic uncertainty that President Donald Trump’s trade policies have caused. Another is the massive cuts imposed on federal government spending.
Additionally, stricter controls for travelers entering the country have people rethinking international travel. This is especially affecting foreign travelers coming to the United States.
These have all led to “softer demand from business and government travel, [and ] declining inbound international tourists from specific regions,” explained Katy Nastro, travel expert and spokesperson for the Going app, speaking to Afar. She said that the “insecurity around the economic outlook have all led airlines to readjust their outlooks for the rest of the year.”
“That’s a yellow flag that even [the airlines] aren’t too confident in what will happen next,” added Nastro. “And because of all these factors, it’s looking like all signs point to yet another dip in average airfare.”
Which destinations have the biggest discounts?
Eric Rosen, the director of travel content at The Points Guy and a Kayak report, shared with the New York Post some of the biggest discounts that travelers can find right now. While domestic airfare is down in the single digits, plane ticket prices for international destinations have significantly greater price decreases.
Rosen said that flight tickets to Milan and Stockholm are currently marked down almost 20 percent and airfare to Berlin is 13 percent lower. Meanwhile, travelers who want to visit far off hotspots like Hong Kong and Sydney could see discounts of 16% and 23%, respectively.
When should you buy your plane tickets?
Those in the business of booking flights like Expedia have hacks for getting the cheapest airfare when booking.
However, even though he sees prices coming down more this year, Henry Harteveldt, an aviation analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told Afar that what he tells people when it comes to booking flights: “If you find flights that meet your schedule, budget, and any other criteria . . . go ahead and book,” he said. “Don’t try to outsmart the airlines.”
“Airlines, through these extremely sophisticated pricing and revenue management software systems that they use, have become experts in matching fares to consumers’ willingness to pay,” Harteveldt explained. “It’s like Las Vegas—the house always wins.”
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