Data by online travel agent Trip.com says that flight bookings from the United States to key European markets were up 246 pc in the first half of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. The most significant leap in transatlantic flights was recorded between July and August 2021, when bookings for flights to Europe rose by 162 pc.

Europe has seen a fantastic summer with a multi-fold growth in foreign tourist arrivals being recorded by almost every important destination in the Old Continent, signifying the return of consumer confidence in travelling. A report released by online travel agent Trip.com, reflects the global travel recovery trends, by analysing data from its booking sites. The report shows the return of US transatlantic travel, as American consumers take advantage of the strong dollar to take more cost-effective European trips.

Report by Trip.com says that there has been a huge surge in US travellers flying to Europe, with inbound visitor numbers up by nearly 250 pc in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 2021.

The significant growth reflected in Trip.com’s data highlights the healthy rebound in transatlantic travel, which appears to signal a return to near pre-pandemic travel levels.

The most significant leap in transatlantic flights was recorded between July and August 2021, when US bookings for flights to Europe rose by 162 pc over the year.

One of the key reasons behind the surge in number of American tourists to Europe is that the US dollar has gained around 14 pc in value against the Euro and GBP, with the USD recently hitting parity with Euro for the first time in two decades.

The advantageous currency rates have translated to more European trips for US travellers that are 10-15 pc less expensive for Americans than at the same time last year.

The strong dollar and weaker euro and pound sterling look set to help speed up the recovery so that it exceeds earlier projections that travel will return sooner to pre-pandemic levels.

UK & Spain top European destinations

Trip.com says that when looking at the data for preferred European markets, it is clear that between January and July 2022, the most popular European market for US departing flights was the United Kingdom. Spain was the second most popular market for travellers to Europe from the US, followed in turn by France, Italy and Germany.

Trip.com’s further data analysis shows that London and Paris were the top European destinations for Americans between January and July this year. Meanwhile, the highly-competitive New York to London route remained the most popular for US travellers, followed by Los Angeles to Paris, then Los Angeles to London.

As evidence of the UK’s enduring popularity with US visitors, Trip.com data recorded a huge 678 pc increase in views for US to UK flights when comparing the first half of 2022 with the same period in 2021.

Meanwhile, other markets also saw a substantial rise in US consumer interest, with a similarly impressive 614 pc increase in views for flights from the US to Spain and a 577 pc increase from the US to Italy, followed by a 491 pc increase from the US to France.

‘‘Transatlantic travel is well and truly back and London is clearly the most popular destination once again for US travellers. Our analysis of Trip.com’s latest data shows a significant surge in demand for travel, not only to the UK but also to other leading European capitals, with Paris and Madrid proving almost equally as popular,’’ says Rich Sun, Trip.com Group’s General Manager for the Americas.

‘‘The massive 246 pc rise in inbound transatlantic bookings from the US to Europe is evidence, if any were needed, that consumer confidence has once again returned to the market. We believe the increased value of the strong US dollar versus the weaker Euro and fall in the value of Pound Sterling means that US travellers have so much more buying power in Europe, which has helped to mark the continent’s return once more as a major destination for the US market,’’ adds Sun.