Listed below are the most recent posts to the website. Click on any item title or button to access our latest reports, press releases, and news items. Or use the menu to the right to browse news, reports, articles featuring IdeaWorksCompany research, and press releases.
Slate Money Travel on the history and business of airline miles
Slate Money
Airline-loyalty-program expert Jay Sorensen joins Episode 2 of this new miniseries from Slate Money all about travel. Felix and Jay talk about the history of airline miles and the fascinating relationship between traveler, bank, and airline. Click here to listen to the 42-minute interview at Slate.com.
Why the airline that inspired Ryanair still refuses to charge for luggage
The Telegraph – London
An annual study of “ancillary” revenue, which includes all income beyond the standard airfare, shows that the top 10 carriers worldwide raked in more than $29.7 billion (£23bn) in 2017, up from just $2.1bn (£1.6bn) in 2007. The CarTrawler Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue by IdeaWorksCompany analysed financial documents for 138 airlines. Unsurprisingly, Ryanair, and other low-cost carriers whose business models revolve around cheap fares and costly “optional” fees, feature prominently.
Southwest Airlines doesn’t assign seats and honestly, this sounds like a nightmare
News.com.au News Australia
A recent joint report from research firm IdeaWorks and Dublin travel tech company CarTrawler estimated airline ancillary revenue would reach $131 billion worldwide in 2018. The report, released in November, estimated that would be about $30.05 in extra fees per passenger. And it’s a 312 per cent increase on the 2010 figure.
Southwest Airlines doesn’t assign seats and honestly, this sounds like a nightmare
Buying Business Travel
A recent joint report from research firm IdeaWorks and Dublin travel tech company CarTrawler estimated airline ancillary revenue would reach $131 billion worldwide in 2018. The report, released in November, estimated that would be about $30.05 in extra fees per passenger. And it’s a 312 per cent increase on the 2010 figure.
Ancillary Revenues Expected to Hit $92.9 Billion
Airlines – IATA
Airline ancillary revenue has been projected to reach $92.9 billion worldwide for 2018. The CarTrawler Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue represents a 312% increase from the 2010 figure of $22.6 billion, which was the first annual ancillary revenue estimate. Online car rental distribution systems provider CarTrawler, teams up with airline ancillary revenue consultancy IdeaWorksCompany, to project the industry estimate annually. The CarTrawler Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue marks the ninth year IdeaWorksCompany has prepared a projection of ancillary revenue activity.
How Much Money Do Budget Airlines Make From Charging for Extras?
The Independent (UK)
Ryanair already makes a huge amount of its capital from ancillary revenue, even before the new hand luggage rules came into play. In H1, this revenue stream increased by 27 per cent to €1.3bn (£1.1bn), driving an eight per cent increase in total revenue to €4.8bn (£4.2bn). This number is likely to only go up. It’s far from the only airline to make a consequential percentage of its profits through add-ons. EasyJet made $1.3bn (£1bn) in 2017 from ancillary revenue, 19.5 per cent of its total revenue, according to IdeaWorksCompany’s annual report, the Yearbook of Ancillary revenue. The airline was the 10th highest earner from this income source, revealed the report.
Fares vs. fees: Here’s how much U.S. airlines make from checked bags, changed flights
Dallas Morning News
It’s been a decade since American Airlines became the first major carrier to charge for a first checked bag, a move that was quickly followed by its peers. Since then, airlines have reaped billions of dollars in fees and continued to find new things to charge for, from seat assignments to boarding position.
How Much Money Do Budget Airlines Make From Charging for Extras?
New York Times
Checked-bag fees are part of a constellation of extra charges airlines have implemented for preferred seats on planes, such as those in the front of economy, or ticket changes. IdeaWorksCompany, a consultancy that analyzes ancillary fees, projected airline fee revenue exceeded $82 billion worldwide last year.
Now boarding: higher fees for air travelers
The Boston Globe
According to a study from the consulting firm IdeaWorksCompany, which focuses on the airline industry, ancillary income for the top 10 international carriers in 2007 was $2.1 billion. In 2017, that figure had risen to $29.7 billion. The additional fees are even higher among low-cost carriers that entice customers with their impossible-to-resist low fares.
Airline revenues from theatre and car hire lift off
The Financial Times
Ancillary revenues have soared in the decade to 2017. The top 10 global airlines, ranked by total ancillary revenue, increased them from $2.1bn to $29.7bn in the 10 years to 2017, according to IdeaWorksCompany (IWC) and CarTrawler. United Airlines led with $5.8bn, three-fifths of which came from what IWC calls “à la carte” sources, such as charges for extra bags, and travel retail commissions. The rest was frequent flyer programmes.