Airlines expected to cut 2025 outlooks

[reader]

NOTE -- If there's any good news on airfare front it may be that lower ticket prices maybe in the offing.

From CNBC

• Airlines are expected to cut 2025 outlooks when they report earnings starting this week.
• Wall Street analysts have slashed their price targets for U.S. airlines and downgraded ratings as concerns about travel demand grow.
• Consumers had been willing to pay for travel and experiences over goods despite years of inflation, but the industry has seen a stark turn in sentiment.

Continues at

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/07/airlines-expected-to-cut-2025-outlooks-as-travel-demand-falters.html

[PeterRS]

I have noticed a number of fare reductions out of Bangkok over the last few months. Some airlines used to offer discounts on tickets to Europe (and maybe elsewhere but my destination was always Europe) in October for travel up to the following summer. For quite a few years I have got Qatar tickets for the following March at a basic discount of at least 20% - sometimes 25%. I have even got mileage tickets almost always in or near the days I wished.

With enough miles left for one more European biz class ticket, I called Qatar last October to find out which dates were available in March 2025. None! A week later I called, extended the search to 4 months and was told there was only one seat available back from Europe. None going to Europe. I found this ridiculous, the more so given that Qatar had resumed its 5 daily flights to Doha, including one A380, and had 2 onward daily connections to my European destintation. Finally I had to accept a mileage ticket on Cathay Pacific via HKG which meant a 14-hour HKG/Europe flight plus a purchased short haul ticket at the European end. But then I was quite surprised to find that all six flights on that trip were 100% full!

Now, though, something is clearly happening. Qatar and Emirates have sent out several emails recently with special biz class discount offers through to November. Given that this covers the summer holiday period in Europe and the USA, I find this both surprising and unusual. Hopefully the post-covid hike in fares last year may now be coming to an end and airlines are keen to keep planes relatively full, even at a discount. Although we should be aware that often such discounts in biz class are only for the tickets. If you want lounge access and advance seat selection, you are often screwed for a considerable premium!