The return of long-haul travel – trans-Atlantic

Traffic and capacity between North America and Europe have largely recovered and this summer could see record numbers of flights across the North Atlantic.  

The soaring transatlantic market has resumed the momentum seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, and airlines operating across this key global aviation market are bullish about the future. In fact, if future schedules for Jul-2023 hold, more flights will cross the North Atlantic than in any month in the history of commercial aviation. 

This is being driven by legacy airlines supported by a strong leisure demand market willing to pay premium fares and a continued business travel recovery. It is also being supported by a renewed dynamism in the Europe to North America low cost market, which has undergone a reboot since the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

With widebodies continuing to be pulled out of storage and connectivity being re-established, this session addresses the dynamics of the return of long-haul travel in this market. 

• What are the dynamics in different trans-Atlantic country pairs as carriers see a return to normalcy on long-haul routes? 

• As increasing numbers of the new generation of long-haul narrowbody aircraft enter service, what does this mean for operating profiles on some long-haul routes? 

• How will new partnerships, including Emirates’ agreements with Air Canada and United, shape the long-haul market going forward?