- United and Delta are expanding flights to Europe to take advantage of strong travel demand.
- United and Delta are flying 23% and 13% more flights to Europe, respectively, compared to 2019.
- Both airlines are increasing their European presence with new transatlantic routes.
Airlines say Europe remains among the biggest money earners in 2025 as people eagerly flock to more international destinations.
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines said in recent earnings calls that they are deploying more seats than ever to Europe to take advantage of booming travel demand, which has remained strong since the COVID-19 pandemic halted overseas vacations. .
In the fourth quarter of 2024, United’s passenger revenue in Europe grew 9.5% compared to 2023, with only a 2.3% increase in seat capacity.
Delta saw a 4% increase in transatlantic passenger revenue over the same period, despite a 2% reduction in capacity. (Delta’s figures include Europe as well as half a dozen destinations in Africa and the Middle East.)
Both airlines have increased their planned transatlantic presence further in 2025, operating more than 100,000 flights in total between the two, far more than in previous years according to data from Cirium.
Europe is no longer just a seasonal hotspot
Andrew Nocella, United’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, said during Wednesday’s earnings call that Europe is becoming a “year-round destination” as it was a less valuable revenue stream during off-peak months in previous years, such as between January and March.
“Now we’re seeing a completely different result, where people are willing to go on a holiday in southern Europe,” he said. “And that really helps de-seasonalize Europe.”
Nocella later said United expects the first quarter to boast the best transatlantic financial performance in its first-quarter history.
He added that the hub’s stronger connection with Star Alliance partner Lufthansa in Germany and lucrative business traffic returning to London Heathrow are also helping United across the Atlantic.
Delta expressed similar sentiment about Europe’s desirability as a year-round destination for U.S. travelers, noting in particular the additional purchasing power of the strong dollar and smaller crowd sizes compared to peak holiday periods.
Delta flies Boeing 767s and newer Airbus A330s and Airbus A350s across the Atlantic. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
“You go to a restaurant in New York and then you go to a restaurant in Europe, you’re going to see a big difference in the bill,” Delta President Glen Hauenstein said on the airline’s Jan. 10 earnings call. “This is a great time to travel to Europe. People are seeing that.”
The Atlanta-based carrier also said it does not believe strong off-peak demand for transatlantic flights this winter will eat away at consumer appetite for summer travel.
Bernstein analyst David Vernon maintained a buy rating on United after its earnings report, saying international flights and premium services are particularly driving revenue.
Ana Garcia, CFRA Research analyst, said the firm expects United to see continued profitability. She said that revenue “increases from network optimization and operational improvements”.
United’s stock is up about 13% year-to-date, while Delta’s is up about 9%.
New routes to Europe from United and Delta in 2025
United has become so bullish about Europe that it plans to launch new routes to unanticipated destinations in 2025 that are not offered by competitors.
For example, this summer the carrier will fly non-stop to Palermo, Italy, Faro, Portugal and Nuuk, Greenland. These flights will complement United’s already extensive transatlantic network, which includes flights to more than 30 European cities from the US.
The expected delivery of the long-haul Airbus A321XLR – the first expected in January 2026 – will help United push further into Europe as the aircraft can fly routes previously unusable with a widebody or inaccessible with older tight bodies. It will replace the airline’s aging Boeing 757s.
United plans to replace almost every Boeing 757 line with the Airbus A321XLR in 2026. It will fly primarily to Europe. Craig Russell/Shutterstock
However, United said wide-body supply constraints, including airframes and engines, will affect its long-haul operations at least until the end of the decade.
The carrier has placed orders for 150 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and expects to receive 11 in 2025. That’s down from 18 expected in February 2024.
Delta has not purchased the A321XLR and flies only a handful of Boeing 757s across the Atlantic.
Instead, the airline relies on a large fleet of older Boeing 767s and newer wide-body Airbus A330s and A350s to operate more than 700 flights a week to 33 European destinations.
This summer, Delta will add new routes to countries in southern Europe, such as Barcelona and Catania and Naples in southern Italy.