While prices are rising for many everyday costs, summer airfares to hundreds of destinations are bucking this trend.
Search data from booking site KAYAK shows average flight prices are down 7 per cent compared to last year – also making them the cheapest they have been in recent years.
Over 100 cities are seeing drops, from long-haul spots like Sydney (-23 per cent) and Hong Kong (-16 per cent) to well-loved destinations on the continent like Rome (-10 per cent) and London (-4 per cent).
Here’s where to book this summer and when to travel to make your budget stretch further.
Stockholm, Milan, Berlin: Flying to these popular cities will be cheaper this summer
Airfares are finally giving travellers a break – especially for trips to big-name cities.
KAYAK flight search data shows that dozens of hotspots are seeing double-digit drops compared to last year.
Stockholm is down 17 per cent, Oslo 16 per cent, Milan and Copenhagen 15 per cent, and Berlin 13 per cent.
The booking site also asked respondents what their favourite holiday spots were, and found that for the three European destinations in the top five, flight prices are either the same or cheaper than last year.
London, taking first place, is down four per cent, while Paris prices remain the same and Rome airfares are down 10 per cent. Athens, in ninth place, can save you 11 per cent compared to 2024.
When to book your holiday for the best airfare savings
This summer, saving money is also all about smart timing. The new data shows that booking during certain weeks could save you hundreds of euros compared to peak periods.
The dates for finding the best airfare deals are the week beginning 26 May, followed by the week beginning 25 August and then 11 August.
Avoid the weeks beginning 16 June, 23 June, 7 July and 14 July, as these are the most expensive – and often the busiest.
KAYAK’s travel expert, Kayla DeLoache, also recommends catching the first flight out of the day to save money and have a smoother journey.
“Early morning flights are usually cheaper, face fewer delays and give you more time in your destination. Save cash, save time and maybe even catch a mid-air sunrise,” she says.
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