What does the summer of travel look like for 2026? Cirium, an independent airline analytics company, has now analyzed advance airline bookings for this coming summer and compared them to 2025. And the numbers are looking a bit grim.

Advance bookings to the U.S. from Amsterdam, down 23%, Paris, down 21%, Barcelona down 26%, Frankfurt to the U.S. down 36%.

What’s even more troubling are the advance bookings from the U.S. to Europe.

U.S. travelers to Athens, down 13%, to Dublin, down 13%, Amsterdam and Paris, down 7%, and Frankfurt down 29%.

This means, get ready for international airfare sales. But at the same time, not many hotel deals in Europe.

Why? The Europeans may not be coming to the U.S. Instead they’re traveling within Europe and filling up those hotels, so book as much ahead as you can.