Classified by seats occupied, these international flight routes were the busiest in 2024
Five years on from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it seems fair to say the aviation industry is well on its way to recovery. After a very difficult period during which travel bans nearly decimated the industry, things have started to pick up. Now in 2025, there are a number of exciting developments set to bring aviation into a new era.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
One of the most exciting developments that travelers have been promised for 2025 is an increase in the number of transatlantic flight routes.
Last but not least, 2025 may bring (at long last) the solution to the problem of lost luggage. This is thanks to a partnership between Apple and various airlines.
On the other hand, airlines are also getting better at selling premium seats, which further reduces their availability by the time people are ready to board.
And so there you have it, several key developments that we can expect to see in the aviation industry during the coming year. After the havoc that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked on the industry, it seems safe to say that aviation is back with a vengeance, and commentators are talking about 2025 as the year that ushers in a new era of travel.
Sources: (CNN) (Condé Nast Traveler)
See also: New COVID strain threatens Europe, the US, and beyond
In December 2024, with their release of iOS 18.2 for models iPhone X or newer, Apple introduced a feature called "Share Item Location."
On the one hand, corporate travel numbers are trending up, which means that competition for the more expensive seats is naturally stronger.
If you don't have frequent flier status and you are used to buying an economy ticket and hoping for an upgrade, you can be pretty sure those days are over.
In 2025 this trend is set to continue, as partnerships between airlines and businesses in other verticals, such as retailers, hotels, and experience providers, continue to grow.
In 2025, more than 15 airlines, which jointly serve millions of people globally, are expected to start using Find My Item Locations as a means to find lost luggage.
This is nothing new, of course: when American Airlines changed the model of its loyalty program in 2022, the focus shifted from earning points via flying to earning points via a combination of flying and spending money across a wide variety of partners.
A further 25 airlines also have the XLR on order, including JetBlue, Delta, United, American, Air Canada, and Aer Lingus.
While it may become easier to earn frequent flier status via routes other than flying, in 2025 it will become increasingly difficult to receive an upgrade.
In 2025, it will become even easier to earn frequent flier status without ever actually having to fly. In fact, boarding a plane may be the worst way to go about earning points!
Already in November 2024 the Spanish airline Iberia introduced a year-round route between Madrid and Boston, and in 2025 it plans to add a route between Madrid and Washington.
This feature allows iPhone users to locate lost items by sharing a link to the location of an AirTag with third parties, such as airlines.
In 2025, we can also expect to see more creative long-haul routes, as airlines ramp up their use of the Airbus A321XLR ("Extra Long Range").
The XLR is basically an upgrade of the A321neo. It's more efficient than its predecessor, which means that it can make possible long-haul flights that previously weren't economically feasible.
In fact, in 2024 it was possible to achieve the top flier status with American Airlines without ever boarding one of their planes.
Combine this with an increase in the already huge amounts that London airports charge for passenger drop-off, and the UK is quickly becoming a less attractive travel option.
Previously, international travelers to Greenland would have to land at Kangerlussuaq and take a connecting flight to the country's capital, Nuuk.
With the opening of the new airport, passengers are able to travel directly to and from the US, with a twice-weekly flight from Newark scheduled by United Airlines.
The UK government has announced that in 2025 there will be an increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD), a tax that is levied on flight passengers and rolled into the ticket price.
One European destination that travelers may begin to avoid in 2025, however, is London. A combination of rising taxes and new paperwork requirements is predicted to make this travel destination less attractive.
From January 8, certain visitors who do not need a visa for the UK will be required to purchase an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in order to enter the country.
Delta Air Lines are not alone in this mission, either: both United Airlines and American Airlines have announced various new transatlantic routes for 2025.
While fewer people are expected to travel to London in 2025, more are predicted to travel to Greenland, thanks to the recent opening of its brand-new Nuuk International Airport.
Air Greenland and Scandinavian Airlines also plan to take advantage of the opportunity by increasing the frequency of existing flights and adding new routes.
New routes announced by Delta Air Lines include Atlanta to Brussels, Belgium, and Naples, Italy; Boston to Barcelona, Spain, and Milan, Italy; Minneapolis to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Rome, Italy; New York-JFK to Catania, Italy; and Detroit to Dublin, Ireland.
Delta Air Lines, for example, announced in September 2024 that summer 2025 would be a record season, and that they would operate 700 weekly flights connecting the US and Europe.
What's changing in air travel in 2025?
Trends you can expect this new year
TRAVEL Flying
Five years on from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it seems fair to say the aviation industry is well on its way to recovery. After a very difficult period during which travel bans nearly decimated the industry, things have started to pick up. Now in 2025, there are a number of exciting developments set to bring aviation into a new era.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.