Air travel outlook for 2025: Five group flight trends to be aware of
As flight specialists, it pays to stay up to date on the latest in air travel and group flight trends.
That way, we can make sure we offer all our clients the most up-to-date and tailored advice. This also ensures we can bag you the best deals when booking group flights.
With that in mind, we’re going to take a look at five travel trends for 2025 and the key factors that are set to shape the UK's air travel landscape over the next 12 months.
1. An expansion of airline routes
Several airlines, and in particular several budget airlines, are expanding their services and routes to meet growing demand in 2025. From BA and Tui to Jet2 and easyJet, at least 50 new routes are set to be launched from UK airports next year.
As part of this, lots of regional hubs like Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff will see more flights and new routes to destinations like Marrakech, the Canary Islands, Vienna and many more.
This is great news for those planning a corporate getaway, school trip or any other group travel experience from smaller cities, reducing the need to travel miles to fly from bigger hubs like London Heathrow or Gatwick.
2. A shift towards less conventional destinations
Today’s travellers are increasingly seeking alternative, less-explored destinations, influenced by these new budget flight routes and a desire for more unique experiences.
For example, destinations such as Reggio Calabria in southern Italy and Tartu in Estonia are gaining popularity as up-and-coming hotspots. This presents organisations, schools and others travelling in a large group with the chance to explore new and exciting destinations in 2025.
3. Development of urban air mobility
The UK is investing in urban air mobility solutions, with the construction of the country's first flying taxi airport underway at Bicester Aerodrome. Scheduled to be completed in early 2025, this ‘vertiport’ aims to revolutionise short-distance travel with electric vertical take-off and landing.
The air taxi has the potential to cut journeys down from 90 minutes to just 15 minutes in the air.
While this is still very much in the early stages of development and may only carry a small number of passengers right now, urban air mobility has the potential to revolutionise air travel, especially corporate travel.
Not only are these vehicles set to be more sustainable, but they also make flying for business meetings or corporate events far easier and more feasible.
4. Airfares look set to stabilise
Global airfares are expected to stabilise next year as airline capacity continues to grow worldwide. Although most routes will see a year-on-year fare increase, these are expected to be modest, with notable regional variations.
Despite this moderation in price increases, there may still be ongoing challenges for travellers as airlines are prioritising smart revenue management and dynamic pricing above all else.
With that in mind, in 2025, businesses will face a new reality in their air travel programs.
Companies should prepare for tougher negotiations with airlines, particularly as carriers refine their distribution models. Strategic approaches, such as leveraging loyalty programs, will be essential.
Partnering with group flight specialists like BTG Travel will also be hugely beneficial for managing group travel, especially for corporate teams, who need to navigate these challenges more effectively.
5. A return to nostalgic travel
Finally, although not a trend that will have a huge impact on group travel, it’s worth noting that there is also a growing trend among UK travellers to revisit destinations they frequented as children.
For those not wanting to explore shores and cities unknown, many want to return to childhood holiday destinations where they themselves had years of memories and traditions.
This may be the first choice for large family reunions or simply just for summer holidays, but for many, 2025 is all about reliving the innocent nostalgia of childhood holidays in places like Spain and Greece.
Get your group travel plans sorted for 2025
These five trends show how the UK's air travel scene is evolving in 2025, with technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and industry developments all shaping the future of flying.
So, if you’re planning MICE travel, school trips or any other kind of group getaway in 2025, we can help. Get in touch with the talented team at BTG Travel Management for group flight bookings, tailored advice and the best deals.