Surge in Flight Searches to Rome After Pope Francis' Death: Impact on Travelers and Airlines

The funeral of Pope Francis has created a significant increase in demand for travel to Rome, leading to a surge in flight and accommodation searches, resulting in increased prices for travelers.

Spike in Travel Searches

Following the death of Pope Francis, there has been a remarkable surge in flight searches to Rome, with a staggering 250% increase in the three days following the announcement of his passing, compared to the same period in 2024. This surge indicates the overwhelming desire of Americans to pay their respects in person at St. Peter's Basilica. Additionally, searches for lodging in Rome have also witnessed a significant rise of 35% for the same dates compared to the previous year.

Global Impact

While the majority of the increased demand for travel to Rome is attributed to U.S. residents, global searches from other countries have also seen a remarkable 125% increase for the week, highlighting the international significance of Pope Francis' funeral. Travel booking site Expedia.com has reported these significant spikes in search interest, indicating the global attention and desire to participate in the memorial.

Melanie Fish, a travel expert at Expedia, emphasized the unprecedented nature of this surge in travel searches, noting that it extends beyond flights to include accommodation searches as well. The specific travel dates have clearly driven this heightened interest, showcasing the profound impact of Pope Francis' passing on the travel industry.

Increased Airfares

Scott Keyes, the founder and CEO of flight deals website Going.com, reported that search interest in travel to Rome for the period of April 21-23 has nearly tripled since the announcement of the pope's death. This surge in demand has, unfortunately, led to a significant increase in airfares for flights from the U.S. to Rome, with prices rising approximately 33% for departures between April 22-25 and returns from April 27-30 compared to the prices before the pope's death. Travelers planning to book flights to Rome are advised to be aware of the rising costs as the travel date approaches.

Melanie Fish also highlighted that ticket prices typically rise as the travel date gets closer, and Expedia anticipates further increases in prices for flights to Rome as Friday approaches. This is primarily due to the inability of airlines to immediately add more capacity in response to the heightened demand, resulting in crowded flights and escalating prices in the short term.