Why is flying more expensive in the US than in Europe?

Downward price pressure from low-cost carriers in Europe

European flyers however are not facing the same high prices. This is partly thanks to the deregulation of Europe’s skies that happened during the 1990s, creating a diverse single market in which any EU carrier can in theory serve any EU destination. This led to a more level playing field between budget or low-cost operators and their larger competitors, helping to keep prices low. In the same vein, Europe also benefits from more viable alternatives to air travel than the US, with a comprehensive 6,500 km high-speed rail network giving consumers more options.

Big carriers dominate in US

The US market meanwhile went in the other direction, undergoing carrier consolidation with mergers between airlines such as Delta and Northwest, and United and Continental, effectively stifling competition. Now, just five carriers dominate the market there, representing 80% of flights. In contrast, low-cost carriers make up nearly 60% of the market in some European countries. According to Simple Flying, Ryanair, for example, flies to almost double the number of destinations in Europe (228) of equivalent US budget operator Southwest (115) and is able to maximise its network to fly 2400 routes. 

Protectionism

The US also limits its offer to consumers because only carriers at least 75% US-controlled and with at least 66% US executives are allowed to operate there. Although a 2008 EU-US Air Transport Agreement removed protectionist route, price and scheduling caps on services between the continents, a “second stage” of negotiations is yet to successfully remove other limitations.

At the time of the first agreement, the EU’s ambassador to the US said that consumer savings from “a truly open-skies policy would amount to more than $5 billion annually while providing far greater connectivity across the country.” Echoing that, the EU Commission said achieving a new pact would “normalise transatlantic aviation, bringing it into line with the changes that we have already seen in other sectors of the economy.”