If you're thinking of spreading your wings a little further afield, now might be a great time to do it. According to flight comparison website, Skyscanner, flights to long-haul destinations from the UK are cheaper than this time last year.
“We have seen an average 10% drop in flight prices over the last year, but what we are now able to see is where the biggest drops are for those long haul destinations and show travellers that those far-flung locations might be more affordable than they think,” says Skyscanner’s travel editor Cat McGloin. “Whilst it is hard to predict the exact future trends of flight prices and if they will continue to drop, what we do know is the price of oil, flight demand and route availability all impact on the cost of flights."
Flights to the US and Canada have seen the biggest drop in price, with Vancouver seeing the greatest decrease - 18 per cent. A return flight to Boston costs 13% less than last year, while Hong Kong, Kathmandu, Auckland, Shanghai, Amritsar and Islamabad are all 11% cheaper. Flights to Bali, Orlando, Toronto, Perth and Manila can be purchased for 10% less than last year. The savings are partly fuelled by increased competition between airlines.
However, McGloin says that anyone hoping to take advantage of these lower prices should book soon and look to travel in late autumn or early winter. “Finding cheap prices can be easy if travellers are flexible," she explains. "Choosing to depart from a different airport or changing the date of travel are just two quick hacks to consider.”