'FLYROX', 'AI-TINERARY' AND 'SCENE SEEKING' ARE THE TRAVEL TRENDS SET TO TAKE OFF IN 2025

Today, London Luton Airport (LLA) reveals its annual 2025 travel trend predictions, uncovering insights from a survey of 2,000 UK adults about their evolving holiday habits.

From AI-powered getaways to nostalgia-fuelled adventures, the UK's simplest and friendliest airport reveals five new travel trends that are helping pave the way for holidaymakers for the year ahead.

London Luton Airport's 2025 UK Travel Trends:

Don't Look Back - Wander: Like the Gallaghers, 2025 is all about reconnecting with family and hitting the road, rediscovering bonds, creating new memories and having the time of your life together. A third (33%) go on family-focused trips at least once a year, with a fifth (21%) planning a trip to visit a long lost relative.

FLYROX: Inspired by global contests, a fifth (20%) plan on travelling abroad this year for a fitness competition, turning travel destinations into endurance arenas in the search for sporting glory. Fuelled by competition, a quarter (25%) say the prospect of competing abroad makes them more eager to participate.

Real Roaming: In a move toward genuine connection and cultural immersion, travellers are saying goodbye to Wi-Fi, turning off data roaming and embracing digital detoxes abroad (59%). 44% felt digital detoxing increases relaxation, allowing them to be in the moment (41%), leading to more meaningful experiences (32%) and personal interactions (27%).

Scene Seeking: This is more than just visiting film sets and locations; film fans are diving into the nostalgia of much-loved cult classics and old-school favourites, and heading off to their favourite on screen destinations. Nearly half (49%) want to go on holiday where they can revisit places from their favourite childhood movies, with 58% citing nostalgia as a key motivator when choosing their travel destinations.

AI-tinerary: AI tools are set to revolutionise spontaneous travel in 2025, with over half (54%) admitting AI improves their travel planning experience. Making last-minute getaways effortless, AI will power travel itineraries, as 37% plan to use it for last minute trip recommendations.

DON'T LOOK BACK - WANDER
Reuniting with family through meaningful adventures

Reconnecting with family is always rewarding, and if the Gallaghers can do it, there's no excuse not to follow suit. In 2025, one in five (21%) of holidaymakers are planning trips to visit long-lost relatives, while 74% say they're open to travelling with extended family for a bonding experience.

With seven in 10 (71%) believing shared holiday and travel experiences can improve, or even heal relationships, and 67% admitting that it's a meaningful way to reconnect even after years of separation, holidays aren't solely about the destination. In search of unforgettable shared memories, over half (55%) of travellers now prioritise family reconnection over solo journeys - family adventures are back. Whether it's a road trip to explore cultural roots (70%), or a trip to celebrate a special occasion (80%), these trips are for rediscovering the ties that bind.

FLYROX
For endurance athletes, the world is their arena

A new wave of fitness-driven travellers will take to the skies in 2025, with over a quarter (26%) planning to travel for fitness competitions three times this year. Blending a love of sport with adventure, 24% are travelling to locations they would otherwise not consider visiting, and over one in three (34%) are going abroad to meet new people with similar sporting interests. These endurance enthusiasts are redefining what it means to 'holiday'.

From football (49%) and rugby (20%) matches, to marathons (35%), triathlons (17%), and Hyrox competitions (9%), a quarter (25%) of respondents say the prospect of competing abroad makes them more eager to participate. For these modern gladiators, every destination becomes an endurance arena - a chance to push limits, embrace resilience, and combine overseas travel with a test of grit and determination. With connections to over 130 destinations* across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, London Luton Airport is ready to take fitness enthusiasts international.

REAL ROAMING
Disconnect to reconnect with cultural immersion

Travellers are saying goodbye to Wi-Fi and hello to genuine cultural connection and immersion in 2025, with nearly three in five (59%) planning to limit phone usage during holidays. By spending an average of over two and a half (2.6) hours less on their devices per day, these 'Real Roamers' are embracing the joy of being truly present.

Gone are the days of scrolling for restaurant reviews, 56% enjoy the prospect of organically discovering places to dine in, letting curiosity guide their journey. Holidaymakers are prioritising living in the moment (41%); 44% feel more relaxed when disconnected, and 48% are determined not to let social media distract them from immersing themselves in cultural experiences.

It's time to swap Facetime for face-to-face encounters and savour each sight and sound, rediscovering the art of immersive travel.

SCENE SEEKING
Nostalgia meets wanderlust

With blockbuster remakes and much anticipated sequels, like Karate Kid: Legends or Jurassic World Rebirth, set to hit screens in 2025, film fans want to relive old school movie magic in real time - nearly half (49%) want to visit places from their favourite childhood films and 39% are looking to head off on a classic movie inspired getaway. This is more than just seeing iconic film sets; it's a gateway into timeless locations and a chance to visit places that have become cultural touchpoints.

Destinations topping the list of where travellers have been inspired by cinematic wonder include the romantic destinations of Italy (42%) and France (31%) where flyers can relive the romance of Moulin Rouge in Paris or Romeo and Juliet in fair Verona.

However, it's not just films spurring destination choice in 2025, people are chasing TV nostalgia, two in five (40%) are box-set enthusiasts, planning their holiday destinations around much-loved TV series. Northern Ireland is gaining traction, with a quarter (25%) of respondents wanting to visit after watching the much-loved comedy Derry Girls, and a Game of Thrones getaway in Croatia is on the cards for 25% of travellers.

AI-TINERARY
AI takes the guesswork out of spontaneous travel

For the more tech-savvy traveller, last minute getaways just got easier, with over half (54%) of holidaymakers now using AI-powered tools to plan trips. Travellers are saving time (35%), getting inspiration for destinations (27%), and finding the best value for their travel desires (26%) all delivered instantly by the power of AI.

Instead of trawling through social media, travel websites and guidebooks, holidaymakers can now simply pack a bag, book a flight and let technology handle the rest. Whether you are looking for a quick weekend adventure or a spontaneous escape, travellers are using AI to discover destinations they may not have otherwise considered (58%), and for last minute recommendations for local excursions (37%).

Clare Armstrong, Head of Guest Experience at London Luton Airport says, "London Luton Airport is gearing up for an exciting 2025 and we are thrilled to see our departure boards showing even more routes and destinations for passengers to choose from. From the day-to-day conversations we have with passengers, it's clear to see that for many people, travel is so much more than an opportunity to visit a new place. It's also an opportunity to connect with new cultures, broaden perspectives, revisit memories and enrich your life in a number of ways. Whether it's families reuniting, sport and fitness fans chasing new personal challenges, or scene seekers travelling to iconic TV and movie locations, we will be working hard to provide a warm welcome and a simple and friendly passenger experience to get their journeys off to a flying start in 2025."

If 'Scene Seeking,' 'Real Roaming' or 'AI-tinerary' sounds like your ideal getaway - or if you're intrigued by any of these exciting new travel trends - visit London-Luton.co.uk to start planning your 2025 adventure. Discover destinations, check out new routes and let London Luton Airport take you where the trends lead.

London Luton Airport - PR agency:
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London Luton Airport Press Office
T: 01582 395333
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London Luton Airport (LLA) is one of the UK's busiest airports, carrying over 16.2 million passengers in 2023. The airport is operated by a consortium, of which the majority shareholder is AENA, the world's largest airport operator, and InfraBridge, a leading infrastructure investment manager. Airlines include easyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair, Tui, FlyOne, Sun Express and El Al.

The Luton Airport Express is a new dedicated train service that allows passengers to travel from central London to the LLA terminal in around 30 minutes. The Luton Airport Express runs from St Pancras International to Luton Airport Parkway station and connects seamlessly with the DART, an electrically powered people mover that connects to the airport terminal in less than four minutes.

In 2024, LLA was named European Airport of the Year (10-25 million passengers) by ACI EUROPE.

Last year, LLA also became only the third major UK airport to achieve Level 4 of the globally recognised Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme, demonstrating that it is 'transforming its operations to achieve carbon reductions in line with global climate goals'. With a maximum score of 100 and a five-star rating, LLA has been ranked as a sector leader for three consecutive years in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) benchmark of sustainability governance management and performance of major infrastructure assets worldwide.

To learn about the progress London Luton Airport is making across its sustainability programme please click here.

Further information on London Luton Airport can be found here: https://www.london-luton.co.uk/

This release was published on openPR.