Germany Airlines Market Analysis
The German airline market is projected to reach nearly €25 billion in 2025 and more than €29 billion in the foreseeable future, driven by rising ticket prices, improving consumer confidence, and sustainable aviation investments. Growth in the Airlines market will be further supported by Gen Alpha emerging as enthusiastic travelers and ongoing efforts to meet regulatory sustainability requirements.
Germany Airlines Market Trends
Younger Germans and families are the most frequent flyers, with holiday travel being a key driver in the Airlines Market Size.
While low price remains the primary choice factor for more than half the number of passengers, consumers also prioritise convenience factors such as good flight times, comfort levels, and flexible booking options, with 50% preferring bundled fares and package holidays
Low-cost carriers can expand their reach to mid-market consumers by promoting value beyond price, as nearly half of the passengers don’t cite low price as a choice factor. Opportunities include offering tiered packages with added comfort such as extra legroom, more flexible tickets, and family-friendly services.
Environmental consciousness is high among passengers, with 60% trying to limit annual flights and 53% supporting airlines using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airlines Industry has opportunities to align loyalty programs with eco-friendly values, such as rewarding passengers who choose lower-emission flight options or SAF usage.Â
About The Report
The Germany Airlines Market Report 2025 provides comprehensive insights into the airlines market in Germany, including trends in consumer behaviour, flight preferences, pricing strategies, and sustainability considerations. It covers areas such as flight patterns by age and family status, factors influencing airline choice, the impact of rising operational costs, and opportunities to align loyalty programmes with changing consumer priorities. The Airlines Market Report also examines market segmentation, forecasts, and key drivers shaping the industry’s future. Airlines, travel agencies, and industry stakeholders will benefit from this report by gaining a deeper understanding of airlines market share, consumer preferences, market opportunities, and strategies to stay competitive in a challenging economic environment.
Key Topics Analysed in the Report
- Overview of current market performance and the outlook for the next five years
- Taken and planned flights by age and family status, including a comparison of low-cost vs mid-range/premium brands
- Airline choice factors, with a focus on how brands can broaden reach among passengers
- Opportunities to adapt pricing strategies in times of rising operational cost
- Analysis of evolving consumer preferences and travel behaviours, with a focus on convenience, sustainability and Gen Alpha
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Published Date | October 2025 |
| Data Range | 2019-2030 |
| Measurement Metrics | Revenue in € |
| Country Focus | Germany |
| Consumer Data | 2,000 internet users aged 16+, August 2025 |
| Number of Pages | 62 |
| Market Segmentation | Flights, Holiday Packages, Airline Loyalty Programs, Onboard Services, and In-Flight Entertainment |
| Leading Companies | Lufthansa, Eurowings, Ryanair, Emirates, Air France, Condor, United Airlines, TUI, and Spotify. |
Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis
This report was written by Silvia Hondt. Silvia explores and writes about German consumer and market trends on the topics of Travel & Leisure. Before joining Mintel, she worked in sports administration and tourism consulting. With her academic background in the field of tourism management and sports and health sciences, she adds significant knowledge of scientific research to her reports.
Airlines face high costs and price-sensitive consumers but can stand out by balancing value and price with higher comfort and smart service adjustments.
Senior Research Analyst
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Opportunities
- Market size and forecast
- Outlook
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OPPORTUNITIES
- Reach a wider audience in a competitive market
- Tap into opportunities to engage emerging target groups
- Cater to different target groups
- Extent your brand to increase reach…
- …inspired by Eurowings position as a value carrier for everyone
- Unlock the power of service-based pricing
- Rethink service offers in a high-price landscape…
- …and leverage different levels of comfort
- Transform into a value-driven lifestyle brand
- Resonate with frequent flyers’ cosmopolitan lifestyle
- Embrace sustainability as a key value of modern air travel
- Reward passengers choosing the most eco-friendly flight option
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CONSUMER
- Taken and planned flights
- Holiday travel dominates the flight market
- Demand for holiday flight travel is set to grow
- Graph 1: planned flights in the next 12 months, 2025
- Lufthansa tells unique travel stories
- Younger Germans are the key passenger segment…
- Graph 2: taken and planned flights – NET, by age, 2025
- …but airlines can tap into opportunities to broaden target groups
- Encourage families to take a flight
- Understand frequent travellers’ lifestyles…
- Graph 3: number of flights taken in the last 12 months, 2025
- …and tap into lifestyle topics inspired by easyJet
- Destinations and types of flights taken
- Airlines are a gateway to the world
- Graph 4: destination of flights taken in the last 12 months, 2025
- Graph 5: destination of flights planned for the next 12 months, 2025
- Shape the future of short-haul flights
- Younger Germans are key users of low-cost airlines
- Graph 6: type of airline taken in the last 12 months, by age, 2025
- Stand out in an emerging competitive mid-market landscape
- Airline choice factors
- Airline choices: more than low price…
- Graph 7: airline choice factors, 2025
- …with flight passengers having a good financial situation
- Combine low price with additional factors
- Find your competitive edge
- Promote ultra comfort as a premium factor
- Leverage loyalty as a key choice factor for some passengers
- Cater to loyal consumers’ preferences
- Airline product changes
- Navigate rising costs with product adjustments
- Graph 8: preferred changes airlines can make as a result of rising cost, 2025
- Understand passengers’ minimum quality expectations
- Older passengers need convenience at affordable prices
- Attitudes and behaviours
- Passengers prefer convenient booking processes
- Graph 9: preferred holiday booking option, 2025
- Graph 10: preferred flight booking option, 2025
- Benefit from some Germans weighing convenience against price
- Balance low price offers with convenient booking methods
- Promote luxury family packages…
- …and address Gen Alpha…
- …inspired by Condor speaking to Gen Alpha kids
- Promote sustainability measures
- Graph 11: behaviours towards sustainable flying, 2025
- Help frequent travellers counteract flight shame
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INNOVATION
- Eurowings positions itself with special moments…
- …and taps into package trips with Eurowings Holidays
- Lufthansa invests in new seating system
- TUI improves in-flights entertainment
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MARKET
- Market drivers
- Cost remains a focus despite slowing inflation
- Flight tickets continue to rise…
- Graph 12: consumer price index, by flight categories, 2024-25
- …fuelled by high taxes and duties and multiple crises
- Multiple crises impact financial confidence and travel plans
- Younger Germans remain determined to spend on holidays…
- …as they are in a good financial position
- Regulations are focusing on the environmental impact of airlines
- Market size
- Market value continues to grow…
- …driven by ongoing price rises
- Market volume recovery is lagging behind
- Rising prices boost market value growth but hinder volume recovery
- Short-haul flights recover more slowly than long-haul flights
- Graph 13: number of passengers starting/arriving at German airports, by destination, 2019-24
- Market segmentation
- Airline market share back on track…
- Graph 14: share of number of trips taken by German residents, by means of transport, 2019-24
- …but business travel lags behind
- Graph 15: number of trips taken by airline, by reasons to travel, 2019-23
- Market share
- Lufthansa as market leader
- Graph 16: airlines taken in the last 12 months, 2025
- Market forecast
- Forecast – note on US trade disruption
- Impact of US trade disruption on the airline market
- Market growth is driven by ongoing price rises in the short term…
- Graph 17: value of airline revenue for passenger transport, 2019-30
- …while market volume growth is expected to pick up as the economy stabilises
- Graph 18: volume for starts/arrivals at German airports, 2019-30
- Airlines continue to face challenging times in the short term
- Holiday travel is expected to drive growth in the medium term
- Gen Alpha will gain importance in the long term
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APPENDIX
- Report scope and definitions
- Market definition
- Generations
- Abbreviations
- Methodology – consumer research
- Consumer research methodology
- A note on language
- TURF analysis methodology
- TURF analysis – “Which of the following would encourage you to choose one airline over another?”
- Methodology – market size and forecast
- Forecast methodology
- Forecast methodology – fan chart
- Market size – value
- Market size – volume
- Market forecast and prediction intervals – value
- Market forecast and prediction intervals – volume
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