The UK Airlines Market Report identifies consumers’ intentions to travel by air, decisive factors when choosing an airline and the impact of rising inflation on the UK aviation market. This report covers the UK aviation market size, market forecast, market segmentation and UK airline market trends.
Mintel estimates that the volume of international passengers uplifted at UK airports will reach 179.8 million in 2022, while the number of domestic passengers is expected to reach 15.0 million in 2022.
The relaxation of travel restrictions finally released the long-awaited pent-up demand for international travel leading to a sharp growth in bookings in 2022. However, multiple challenges are set to hamper recovery.
Soaring inflation poses the biggest threat to the recovery of the UK airline industry. Meanwhile, the potential emergence of vaccine-resistant COVID-19 variants continues to pose a threat to overseas holidays and the UK aviation market size, with the majority of passengers worrying that some destinations may reintroduce restrictions over the coming winter period.
Mintel’s UK airlines industry analysis indicates that confidence in air travel should continue to improve, although the pressure on household finances will put consumers’ travel budgets under pressure.
Meanwhile, there remain opportunities to sell premium experiences to affluent travellers, who are more likely to have built up lockdown savings. Other possibilities include using innovative technologies to speed up the overall time spent through the airport, improving airport dining experiences and enhancing tools to make it easier for travellers to find the lowest available fares.
Innovations around sustainable travel will be essential to enable the future growth of the UK aviation market. 53% of passengers would be open to flying more if environmentally friendly planes, such as electric aircraft, were available. Agreement rises significantly among those who plan to fly less because of concerns about the environmental impact of flying.
To discover more about the UK Airlines Market Report 2022, read our UK Holiday Planning and Booking Process Market Report 2022, or take a look at our extensive Holidays and Travel Market Research.
Brands: Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Wizz Air, easyJet. Ryanair, Jet2.com, Alaska Airlines, BA CityFlyer, Aurigny Air Services, Loganair, TUI Airways .
This report, written by Marloes de Vrie, a leading analyst in the travel sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends in the UK aviation market and add expert context to the numbers.
Although confidence in air travel should continue to improve following more than two years of disruption, the pressure on household finances will put both consumers’ and corporate travel budgets under pressure. Seen as less discretionary, the volume of VFR flights is expected to be more resilient during the current cost of living crisis, as was the case during the previous income squeeze.”
Marloes de Vries
Associate Director
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