Op-Ed: David Neeleman’s five air travel predictions for 2025 – Runway Girl

Widely considered one of the most successful airline entrepreneurs in the world, Breeze Airways founder and CEO David Neeleman shares his five air travel predictions for 2025.

Hobby-List Travel: 

Leisure travelers are moving away from bucket-list destinations and instead letting their hobbies dictate when and where they fly.

Whether they’re running a half marathon in a different state each month, attending a new music festival, or joining a traveling golf club, people are tapping into new communities based on experiences they are personally invested in.

Options over Inclusions: 

More than ever before, leisure travelers are opting for options over inclusions.

Everyone’s travel needs are different, so when it comes to crafting their ideal experience, guests are increasingly prioritizing choices that give them the freedom to pay only for what they need, without sacrificing experience.

For example, we’re seeing that many are willing to pay more for a first-class seat when they can get it at a fraction of the cost.

Industry Consolidation: 

I expect the airline industry will see further consolidation in 2025 and beyond. The ULCC sector has been struggling, and I expect we’ll see a bankruptcy filing and potentially even a merger before the year is out.

AI in Aviation: 

As technologies such as artificial intelligence continue to grow in popularity, I expect to see it play a bigger role in travel.

From travelers using AI to research and book flights, accommodations and other experiences, to airlines leveraging it for things like predictive maintenance and spare parts ordering, I believe AI will be instrumental for facilitating quality travel experiences and reliability moving forward.

Tourism Gatekeeping: 

In 2025 and beyond, I anticipate we’ll see more destinations restricting tourism to limit the negative environmental and social impacts of too many visitors.

Whether through visas, permits or visitation caps, this form of tourism gatekeeping will only increase demand to visit these destinations as travelers continue to prioritize experiences they can’t get anywhere else.

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Featured image of Breeze chief David Neeleman credited to Mary Kirby