2025
9
UK Airlines Market Report 2025
2025-11-04T14:01:39+00:00
REPFBF813F2_97C2_4A21_A491_421BEC2A739E
2995
188272
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Report
en_GB
The UK airline industry is navigating a period of significant change, marked by evolving consumer behaviours/economic pressures. It's a complex landscape where passenger priorities are shifting, creating both fresh opportunities…
UK
Travel
simple

UK Airlines Market Report 2025

"Consumers want sustainable choices, but inflation drives budget travel while premium services offer an opportunity. Airlines must innovate to balance these demands."

Utku Tansel - Senior Analyst

Utku Tansel - Senior Analyst

UK Airlines – Analysis and Trends

  • The UK airline industry is navigating a period of significant change, marked by evolving consumer behaviours and economic pressures. It’s a complex landscape where passenger priorities are shifting, creating both fresh opportunities and considerable challenges for carriers, forcing them to reconsider their service models and strategic investments.
  • Over three-quarters of UK travellers are willing to support emission reduction efforts – a major shift towards sustainability that is reshaping expectations. Yet, this demand for greener travel is contrasted by the persistent threat of inflation, which is squeezing household budgets and leading to more cautious spending on flights, particularly in the economy class sector.
  • The most significant opportunity lies in capitalising on the rising demand for premium services. A notable segment of travellers is prepared to pay more for enhanced experiences like upgraded in-flight dining, better Wi-Fi, and lounge access. Expanding these premium offerings can provide a valuable new revenue stream for airlines.
  • The industry faces a dual challenge: meeting the demand for sustainable and premium travel while remaining accessible to budget-conscious consumers. Success will depend on an airline’s ability to innovate, particularly through technology-driven customer service, and to balance these competing demands effectively.

Key Issues Covered in the Report

  • An analysis of the UK airline market’s projected performance over the next five years, distinguishing between domestic and international air travel segments.
  • Key factors influencing airline selection, such as competitive pricing, good customer service, diverse flight schedules, convenient airport access, and the availability of direct routes.
  • Passenger interest in amenities like lounge access, premium in-flight catering, onboard Wi-Fi, and carbon offsetting options, alongside their willingness to pay for these enhancements.
  • Major obstacles to air travel, including prohibitive flight costs, the absence of a travel need, and the perceived inconvenience of the airport experience (eg, transit, security).
Report AttributesDetails
Published DateNovember 2025
Report AuthorUtku Tansel, Senior Analyst
Market Data Range2019-2030
Consumer Data2,000 internet users aged 16+, August 2025
Major UK-based Airlines Covered in the ReporteasyJet UK Ltd, British Airways PLC, Jet2.com Ltd, TUI Airways Ltd, Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd, Wizz Air UK Ltd, Ryanair UK Ltd
Consumer Data CoverageFlights taken,
Purchase channels to book flights,
Future intentions to take flights,
Decisive factors when choosing an airline,
Flying behaviours and attitudes,
Barriers to flying
Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for Airlines
    • Opportunities
    • The comfort premium: airlines’ golden opportunity
    • Human touch still wins
    • Redefining convenience: how airlines can elevate the travel experience
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Inflation surge strains household budgets
    • Graph 1: CPI inflation rate, 2021-25
    • Consumer confidence outlook
    • Graph 2: consumers’ financial confidence over the next year or so, 2025
    • Air Passenger Duty rates rise
    • UK launches sustainable aviation fuel mandate to slash carbon emissions
    • UK air travel: record numbers ahead, but prepare for higher costs
    • International passenger numbers are forecast to reach record heights
    • Domestic air travel is expected to register modest growth
    • UK airlines soar in 2024: BA Euroflyer and Ryanair lead the way
    • easyJet’s profit surge & British Airways’ premium makeover
    • Flying High: Jet2 and Ryanair’s 2025 Milestones
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Flights taken
    • More UK adults take to the skies
    • Graph 3: any flights taken in the last 12 months, 2023, 2024 and 2025
    • Holidays and family/friends visits drive post-pandemic recovery
    • Graph 4: flights taken in the last 12 months, by purpose, 2023, 2024 and 2025
    • Flying smart: travellers blend budget and luxury for the perfect trip
    • Graph 5: types of airline and classes of travel flown in the last 12 months, 2025
    • Purchase channel and flight destinations
    • The majority choose to book flights directly through the airline
    • Travellers increasingly turn to smartphone for holiday bookings
    • Graph 6: expected booking channel for main holiday, 2024-25
    • More travellers are shopping around
    • Graph 7: shopping around for the flights booked in the last 12 months – more, the same amount or less compared to flights booked more than 12 months ago, 2025
    • Future intentions to take flights
    • UK air travel set to soar, fuelled by holiday flights
    • Graph 8: flights taken in the past 12 months vs intention to take flights in the next 12 months, by purpose, 2025
    • European getaways dominate travel plans
    • Graph 9: destinations visited by plane in the past 12 months vs intention to visit in the next 12 months, 2025
    • Decisive factors when choosing an airline
    • Price drives airline choice
    • Low prices rule when choosing an airline
    • Graph 10: factors that most influence choice of airline, 2025
    • Price is key
    • Airline choice is also driven by convenience
    • Why customer service is the ticket to success for airlines
    • Flying behaviours and attitudes
    • Lounge access and gourmet onboard dining are key considerations for consumers
    • Lounge access, premium onboard catering and Wi-Fi are high on the agenda
    • Graph 11: flying behaviours and attitudes — interest and willingness to pay, 2025
    • The airport lounge paradox: premium access vs. mass appeal
    • Graph 12: interest and willingness to pay for access to an airport lounge, 2024-25
    • Reimagining airport lounges: elevating comfort, tech and personalisation
    • Arrival Oasis: the ultimate refresh lounge
    • More flyers are willing to splurge on in-flight dining
    • Graph 13: interest and willingness to pay for premium onboard food and drink, 2024-25
    • In-flight Wi-Fi: a must-have, not a luxury for young travellers
    • Graph 14: interest and willingness to pay for onboard Wi-Fi, 2025
    • Flying green: how consumer demand is shaping the future of sustainable aviation
    • Graph 15: interest and willingness to pay for offsetting emissions, 2024-25
    • Barriers to flying
    • Why travellers are skipping flights: cost and convenience lead the way
    • Beyond the boarding pass: strategies for airlines
    • Elevating air travel
  4. INNOVATION AND MARKETING TRENDS

    • Wizz Air introduced an unlimited annual subscription
    • AI innovation to improve the customer experience
    • New airline alliances and Google’s AI leap
    • Efforts to enhance the flying experience
    • Airlines roll out expansion plans
    • Jet2.com reveals new routes and free flights for infants
    • British Airways launches new rewards system
    • Virgin on ice: a festive, high-flying holiday show
    • British Airways’ new marketing strategy takes flight
    • BA a festive campaign during the 2024 holiday season
    • The strategic power of storytelling in modern marketing
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals for the volume of international passenger numbers uplifted at UK airports
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals for the volume of domestic passenger numbers uplifted at UK airports
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology – EMEA
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Mintel Spark
    • Snoop SpendMapper methodology
    • Abbreviations
    • Avoid travel chaos: airlines must boost EES and ETIAS awareness

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