How is the Iran war changing the way Europeans travel?
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Jet-setting appetites among Europeans may have climbed, but tensions in the Middle East mean more travellers are concerned about safety when considering going abroad.
Travel headlines across Europe have been dominated by the ripple effects of tensions involving Iran, from flight cancellations to mounting fears over jet fuel supplies.
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But have the disruptions put a dent on travel demand, or are Europeans still eager to jet off this spring and summer?
If anything, our appetites to fly are stronger than ever.
The latest research from the European Travel Commission (ECT) on Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel found record levels of interest, with 82% of Europeans planning to travel this season, marking a significant rebound from the pandemic slumps of 2020 and 2021. Yet, safety concerns are becoming increasingly important.
Rising costs and safety are now the main concerns among travellers
Heightened geopolitical tensions are shifting European travellers’ priorities, with safety leading among their concerns. The ECT’s data found 22% of respondents now pin destination safety as their top consideration, a 4% increase from last year – especially in relation to the Middle East.
However, the impact of the region’s conflict weighed more on older travellers, with 45% of respondents aged over 54 saying they were concerned, compared to 33% among 18 to 24 year olds.
Travellers are also keeping a closer eye on costs compared to 2025.
Despite more people wanting to fly, many are taking a cautious approach to spending, instead opting to go on shorter stays and tighter budgets. The ECT found a 3% increase in respondents planning trips of four to six nights, compared to a 5% decline in those wanting seven to 12 night stays.
Travel budgets have also shifted towards moderation, with a 6% increase in people willing to spend up to €1,000, while there was a 9% decrease in travellers wanting to spend €1,500 and above.
Research by Teneo, a global advisory firm, found sharp increases in airfares, with even the lowest average economy tickets costing passengers 24% more than last year – marking the highest average rise in the past five years.
However, older European travellers were found to be more willing to invest more in the length of stay and budgets for their planned summer travels.
European Union officials and the region’s industry players are also increasingly keeping the disruptions to aviation and travel flows on their radar.
A wave of European carriers, including Lufthansa, are culling summer flight routes to curb jet fuel costs and offload flights that are no longer financially viable.
Earlier this week, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, said that in Europe, which imports about 30% of its jet fuel, the bloc’s emergency stocks “can be and will be released only if necessary.”
Tensions at the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the US have created a significant bottleneck in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, restricting the flow of oil and gas exports via the waterway.
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