Christmas Flight Prices Soar for Some European Destinations

As Europe gears up for the peak winter season and the opening of Christmas markets, travelers planning winter holidays are facing significantly higher flight costs to certain destinations. A special survey by lastminute.co.il for ynet revealed that flight prices to popular European cities have surged by tens of percent compared to last year, although some cities have seen price drops.

The most dramatic price increase was observed for flights to Austria. The average flight price to Salzburg jumped by approximately 60%, from $398 last year to $637 this year. Vienna also experienced a sharp rise of about 57%, with average ticket prices increasing from $324 to $510. Bucharest saw a notable increase of around 52% (from $366 to $556), and Krakow experienced a price hike of about 43% (from $356 to $508).

Conversely, flexibility in choosing destinations can lead to significant savings. In Zurich, for example, the average flight price decreased by about 32%, from $482 last year to $328 this year. Munich recorded a 25% drop, from an average of $520 to $388. Price reductions were also noted for flights to Amsterdam, Budapest, and London.

Assaf Greenberg, Vice President of Marketing at lastminute.co.il, commented that this year shows no uniform "Christmas price" for Europe. He highlighted that while some destinations are becoming more than 50% more expensive, others are seeing prices drop by tens of percent, despite similar travel periods and tourist experiences. Greenberg advised that combining destination flexibility with early booking can result in substantial savings.

The data also indicates a roughly 10% increase in demand and bookings for the last 20 days of December compared to the same period last year. The list of preferred destinations for Israelis has also shifted, with Athens and Berlin entering the top five, replacing Bangkok and New York. This year's top five destinations are Prague, Budapest, Dubai, Athens, and Berlin, compared to Bangkok, Prague, Dubai, Budapest, and New York last year. Bookings for destinations like Munich, New York, Salzburg, and Krakow have decreased compared to the previous year.