Airline ancillary revenue jumps 13.4% in 2025, outpacing overall growth

Based on · First reported 2 Oct 2026

Airlines reported a 13.4% increase in ancillary revenue for 2025, nearly double the 7.2% rise in total revenue, according to industry data. The per‑passenger ancillary revenue grew 10.7%, while other revenue streams rose only 3.3% per passenger. Thirty carriers each generated at least US$1 billion in ancillary earnings during the year.
The four largest U.S. airlines alone earned US$27.9 billion from loyalty programmes, highlighting the growing importance of non‑ticket income streams. This shift suggests that ancillary services are becoming a core component of airline business models rather than a peripheral source.

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