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New flight routes -

One of the most exciting developments that travelers have been promised for 2025 is an increase in the number of transatlantic flight routes.

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New flight routes -

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.

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New flight 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.

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New flight routes -

Delta Air Lines are not alone in this mission, either: both United Airlines and American Airlines have announced various new transatlantic routes for 2025.

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Less travel to London -

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.

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Less travel to London -

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.

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Less travel to London -

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.

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Less travel to London -

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.

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More travel to Greenland -

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.

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More travel to Greenland -

Previously, international travelers to Greenland would have to land at Kangerlussuaq and take a connecting flight to the country's capital, Nuuk.

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More travel to Greenland -

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.

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More travel to Greenland -

Air Greenland and Scandinavian Airlines also plan to take advantage of the opportunity by increasing the frequency of existing flights and adding new routes.

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Better long-haul travel -

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").

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Better long-haul travel -

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.

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Better long-haul travel -

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.

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Better long-haul travel -

A further 25 airlines also have the XLR on order, including JetBlue, Delta, United, American, Air Canada, and Aer Lingus.

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More frequent fliers -

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!

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More frequent fliers -

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.

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More frequent fliers -

In fact, in 2024 it was possible to achieve the top flier status with American Airlines without ever boarding one of their planes.

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More frequent fliers -

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.

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Fewer upgrades -

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.

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Fewer upgrades -

On the one hand, corporate travel numbers are trending up, which means that competition for the more expensive seats is naturally stronger.

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Fewer upgrades -

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.

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Fewer upgrades -

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.

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Fewer lost suitcases -

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.

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Fewer lost suitcases -

In December 2024, with their release of iOS 18.2 for models iPhone X or newer, Apple introduced a feature called "Share Item Location."

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Fewer lost suitcases -

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.

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Fewer lost suitcases -

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.

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Final thoughts -

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

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