U.S. summer airfares to Europe spike

CHICAGO, June 27 (UPI) -- Travel analysts say summer airfares from the United States to several major European cities have jumped in recent days.

The increases affect the prime travel period for families heading to Europe on summer trips. In some cases, ticket prices have doubled.

The Chicago Tribune reported Saturday that flights from the Windy City, a major U.S. airline hub, to destinations such as Frankfurt, London, Rome and Athens have spiked between 45 and 100 percent since Wednesday.

Analysts say the price hike can be traced to fewer seats on international routes and aggressive pricing on last-minute trips.

The good news for travelers, the Tribune said, is that ticket prices tumble starting in mid-August when American families are preparing for the beginning of the new school year.