Airlines tap transatlantic US tourist boom

Travel website Kayak said searches for travel to Europe are up 55% from a year ago

European airlines like Air France are expanding their winter routes to and from North America on the back of a projected travel boom. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

American tourists thronging the streets of Europe's top destinations are set to fuel healthy earnings for airlines this quarter and onwards as they enjoy travelling after long pandemic lockdowns, analysts and aviation executives said.

With Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways-owner IAG and others due to report in the coming weeks, analysts are watching to see how much — and for how long — European carriers will benefit from this US demand.