CNN —
For Americans, it’s summer of overseas travel.
After three years of being confined to their homes, people are heading to Europe and the Pacific Ocean in droves. And once they get there, they spend more money.
The three major U.S. international carriers, American Airlines (AAL), Delta Air Lines (DAL), and United Airlines, have all seen a surge in international passenger traffic in recent months and added additional services to meet demand. .
Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images
Travelers walk through Denver International Airport on July 30.
Airlines report more than doubling in travel from the U.S. to destinations across the Pacific, some of which faced tough coronavirus-related restrictions a year ago. China is also included. Demand for transatlantic flights is also increasing.
And none of the surges in international travel for these three major airlines resulted in a noticeable decline in domestic traffic or fares.
Due to strong demand, international flight fares are increasing.
The average price for a flight to Europe this summer is nearly $1,200, the highest price in six years, according to travel booking app Hopper. Flights to Europe are 12% more expensive than last summer and 23% more expensive than summer 2019.
Where will people go? London, Paris, Rome and Dublin are the top European destinations for U.S. travelers this summer, Hopper said.
Stephanie Lecoq/Reuters
People enjoy the sunset on the banks of the Seine River in Paris, France in June.
American Airlines said passenger revenue on its transatlantic routes surged 45% in the first half of this year, and more than tripled on its transpacific routes.
United Airlines said the number of miles traveled by paying passengers jumped 23% on transatlantic routes and 172% on transpacific routes in the second quarter.
The growth was even stronger at Delta Air Lines, where passenger transatlantic miles increased by 56% in the first half of this year, and the average amount passengers paid for each mile increased by 24%.
People are also increasingly using credit card companies when traveling overseas.
At Mastercard, spending related to international travel is now 154% of pre-pandemic levels, the company announced this week.
Mastercard cited “the resilience of consumer spending, particularly in travel and experiences.”
Domestic travelers will not see any increase in fares. But domestic flights on the three major airlines remain full, and most metrics for domestic fares remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
