Transatlantic business class fares drop amid slow corporate travel recovery

Competition on popular routes like London Heathrow to New York JFK remains intense. This route alone generates over $1 billion in passenger revenue annually. Major airlines operating these transatlantic flights include United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, British Airways, and Air Canada. Newer low-cost carriers such as Norse Atlantic Airways have added further competition but do not offer full business class services.

A Google Flights search reveals that one-way business class tickets from New York JFK to London Heathrow on April 2nd, 2025, are priced at $1,783 across all airlines. Return fares one week later start at $2,909 with British Airways, American Airlines, and JetBlue.

When comparing other transatlantic routes for travel between April 2nd and April 9th, 2025, prices vary significantly. For instance, a round-trip fare from Los Angeles to London Heathrow costs $4,192 with British Airways; Chicago to London Heathrow is priced at $4,100 with British Airways; Atlanta to Paris costs $5,065 with Delta Air Lines; Miami to Barcelona is priced at $5,375 with American Airlines; Los Angeles to Rome costs $5,194 with ITA Airways; Newark to Athens comes in at $3,871 with United Airlines; Boston to Amsterdam is priced at $3,740 with Delta Air Lines; and San Francisco to Paris costs $,4842 with United Airlines.

Historically speaking, air travel has become more affordable over time when adjusted for inflation. In the past decades since the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 deregulated fares controlled by the federal government—resulting in increased competition—airfares have significantly decreased.