Our annual survey of travel sentiment holds a few surprises in 2026.
When 2025 began, airlines were warning of a drop in bookings — especially in the back of the plane. That led to profitability concerns or schedule reductions from major U.S. carriers. But in the end, 2025 turned out to be a pretty good year for airlines and the travel industry as a whole, despite a steep drop in international visitors to the U.S.
The number of passengers that flew in 2025 (over 906 million) slightly eclipsed 2024 totals, according to Transportation Security Administration data.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on The Points Guy Articles.
