Air companies warn to weaken the demand for US travel trips among European tourists

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Two of the largest airlines in Europe have warned that some Europeans are beginning to avoid travel from the United States, as President Donald Trump’s policies risk reaching some of the most busy flight paths in the world.

Air France-Klm and Lufthansa This week they have reported signs of weakening the demand for transatlantic routes among European passengers, although they said that the impact had been limited.

“We know that there are many customers who keep buying tickets for a little more clarity … The border and things like that,” said Air France-KLM’s CEO, Ben Smith, according to the airline reported quarterly results.

Its director, Steven Zaat, said that there had been a change in reserve patterns as the demand of North -american travelers in Europe grew, while some Europeans turned away from North -Americans.

The transatlantic reserves of Europeans to travel in May and June dropped 2.4 percent compared to the previous year. Travel through the other direction, driven by Rich north -american touristsincreased by 2.1 percent.

Signs of travelers that prevent the United States amid the economic tensions and fears of a hostile border represent a threat to the main European Airline European groups, which are very confident of their profit transatlantic routes.

Barclays analysts have estimated that American services generate at least 50 percent of the benefits for the three main “European flag carriers”: Lufthansa, the owner of British Airways Iag and Air France-Klm.

Carsten Spohr, the CEO of Lufthansa, also said on Tuesday that some European passengers showed hesitation in the transatlantic travel reservation. The German airline reported a “light weakening” in reserves for the busy summer season, especially for US travel.

“When it comes to vacation trips to the United States, especially German, Austrian and Swiss markets, it is easy to imagine conversations around the kitchen table where families say,” We still do not know if we want to go, “he said.

Spohr said that the airline group would slightly reduce its intended growth in the transatlantic flight to the fourth quarter, 6 % year -on -year and 3 percent, but expected the demand to be bouncing.

“Discussions about rates are no longer as heated as they were four weeks ago. That is why we believe that some of these reserves will be recovered in the coming weeks,” he added.

Lufthansa said he had created a “working group” to “quickly and flexibly respond to any weakening of demand”, including the cut of flight programs.

Actions in Lufthansa, Iag and Air France have been under pressure this year, in the midst of the investors’ concerns about the impact of these routes and the broadest threat of economic slowing that weighs the demand for flying. The Financial Times of this month reported that the total number of visitors abroad traveled to the United States fell 12 percent In March, year after year.

Several travel companies have also warned of a successful call for transatlantic routes. Virgin Atlantic has indicated a slowdown in the demand of travelers in the United States, while Sébastien Bazin, the CEO of the French Hotel Giant Accor, told Bloomberg that there was a “bad pace” around visiting the United States.

However, both Air France-Klm and Lufthansa were optimistic about the broader prospects of traveling this summer, which remained in the forecasts of a whole year, even when they warned of the uncertainty driven by geopolitics.

“Despite all geopolitical uncertainties, we.

Air France-KLM recorded a lower loss of the first quarter on Wednesday. The airline group recorded an operational loss of € 328 million in the first quarter of the year, below € 489 million a year earlier.

Income increased by 7.7 percent to 7.2 million euros, driven by a strong demand for their business and first class booths.

View Eva Xiao data