Airport Experience® News - ACDBE Issue 2025

DATA CHECK

HONING THE TRAVELER EXPERIENCE Airport Dimensions Survey Tracks Behaviors, Preferences, Priorities

BY CAROL WARD

51 % of all travelers would prefer additional seating in unused areas. 38 % favor the idea of pop-up lounges, blending privacy with accessibility. Airport Vacant Spaces

36 % want to see local, culturally relevant

pop-up retail introduced - pointing to a desire for destination-themed experiences over generic shops. 22 % support reinstating traditional retail units in their original form, suggesting limited nostalgia or attachment to outdated shopping formats. Just

The Af uent Leisure Traveler 42 % of travelers surveyed are ALT Responsible for 81 % of airport spend Travel 28 % more frequently than non-ALTs 6 x more spending globally thannon-ALTs

irport Dimensions has released the results of a global Airport Experience study designed to

categories and show a stronger interest in experiences and retail,” the study said. “Retail spend is a standout area for ALTs: in emerging markets such as Vietnam, ALTs spend up to 19 times more overall than their non-affluent counterparts, with retail accounting for a large portion of that difference.” ALTs also drive experience-related purchases, the study found. Airports are becoming more crowded, and with that passenger stress is rising. The Airport Dimensions study found that two-thirds of respondents perceive airports to be more congested. Nearly that many (62%) say they would consider paying for at least one crowd-mitigating or premium airport service.

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capture insights into traveler behavior, preferences and priorities throughout the airport journey. The AX25 research, conducted in late 2024, draws from more than 10,000 travelers across 16 key markets. The study notes the emergence of the affluent leisure traveler (ALT), and suggests they have “outsized influence and major purchasing power.” These travelers are frequent fliers who tend to spend, engage and expect more. “Unlike other travelers who spend primarily on food and transport, ALTs diversify their spending across

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AX NEWS JUNE 2025