The FIFA World Cup kicks off on U.S. soil this month, and the travel boom everyone predicted? It’s not showing up — at least not at the airport.
Flight bookings from Europe into most host cities for June and July are down 3.8% year-over-year according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. New York — host of the July 19 final — is getting hit hardest, with European bookings down a staggering 15.8%. Hotels are slashing rates after the swarms of international fans they planned for simply haven’t materialized.
The culprits are a familiar mix. Visa hurdles are keeping fans from more than half the qualified countries away. FIFA’s dynamic pricing pushed base tickets toward $1,000 in cities like New York and Miami. And the Trump administration’s stricter border enforcement has created a climate that’s making international travelers think twice about the trip altogether.
The one bright spot is vacation rentals. Airbnb told investors the World Cup is tracking to be its largest event ever, with budget and economy rentals performing particularly well across host cities.
Why It Matters: If you’re flying into a World Cup host city this summer, the expected crowds haven’t arrived — which could mean better availability and softer fares than airlines originally anticipated. Worth checking if your travel plans overlap with match dates.
Source: Reuters