London Luton Airport unveils 2025 travel trends shaping UK holidaymakers’ journeys

Credit: London Luton Airport

London Luton Airport (LLA) has unveiled its predictions for travel trends in 2025, based on a survey of 2,000 UK adults¹ exploring the changing nature of holiday habits. From AI-driven holidays to trips inspired by nostalgia, here are five emerging travel trends that are set to shape the journeys of UK holidaymakers in the coming year.

London Luton Airport’s travel trends for 2025

1. 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.
2. FLYROX: Inspired by global contests, a fifth (20%) plan on travelling abroad next 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.
3. 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%).
4. 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.
5. 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. 

Clare Armstrong, Head of Guest Experience at London Luton Airport, said: “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. Our day-to-day conversations with passengers illustrate 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 so many 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.”

For more details on the survey click here. 

^{1.    The survey of 2,000 respondents (18+) who have been on holiday in the UK or abroad in the last 12 months, or are planning to travel abroad in the next 12 months, was carried out by Censuswide between 3rd – 5th December 2024}