The United States is often one of the most profitable destinations for airlines. For example: for Air France-KLM before the crisis, overseas services alone represented 40% of its long-haul turnover. And most of the companies like United Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways are on a war footing: they have added flights to the United States, are putting bigger planes with more seats. This winter, Air France will offer 122 flights per week, compared to 95 previously, from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to major American cities: New York, Washington, Miami, San Francisco, Houston, etc.
The companies are trying by all means to meet customer demand, which, according to them, is jostling: at British Airways, searches for flights and stays to certain American cities such as New York have climbed to 900% for Christmas . 450% increase recorded at Delta Airlines. Significant increases, also assures Air France, especially at the beginning of November and for the end of year celebrations.
Dozens of international companies share the market towards the United States and Canada. Traditional companies but also low cost, like French Bee or Jetblue, which launched this summer on the routes across the Atlantic. All seek to attract tourists, but also business customers, which are very important because they are very lucrative. However, this clientele is gradually returning but there are concerns about a return to normalcy because with the Covid-19 habits in companies have changed, remote Zoom meetings are replacing air travel.
Companies do not necessarily have the staff to go with it. When the planes were grounded, in the midst of the pandemic, they laid off massively, especially in the United States where thousands of pilots and hostesses found themselves unemployed. Suddenly, this summer, with the recovery and the influx of travelers, companies sometimes found themselves understaffed. American Airlines, for example, had to cancel flights for lack of sufficient teams. Suddenly, she tries to bring back staff, and hires again: 600 people by the end of December. She is not the only one, United and Delta Airlines, but also Ryanair, are also recruiting.