Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Airline Ancillary Revenue Projected at $59.2B

IdeaWorksCompany and CarTrawler estimate airline ancillary revenue will reach $59.2 billion worldwide in 2015. This forecast is 18.8% higher than 2014.

by Staff
November 17, 2015
2 min to read


IdeaWorksCompany, a consultancy on airline ancillary revenues, and CarTrawler, an online global car rental platform, project airline ancillary revenue will reach $59.2 billion worldwide in 2015.

This forecast is an 18.8% increase from 2014, according to “The CarTrawler Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue.” And it’s an increase of 163% from the 2010 figure of $22.6 billion — the first year of the ancillary revenue estimate.

Ad Loading...

For 2015, a list of 180 airlines provided a global projection of ancillary revenue worldwide. This is the sixth year of the “CarTrawler Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue.”

“These figures show the impact that ancillary revenue has on the bottom lines of airlines, but it is also a critically important element of the customer experience,” says Michael Cunningham, CarTrawler’s chief commercial officer. “Airlines that offer a rounded, sophisticated customer experience by drawing on data science insights and the right ancillary offerings have a better chance of backing up revenues with increased loyalty and a stronger brand promise, which in turn leads to increased repeat bookings.”

Revenue from optional services — including on-board sales of food and beverages, checked baggage, premium seat assignments and early boarding benefits — was determined to represent $36.7 billion of the projected global 2015 total, according to the report.

The smaller share at $22.5 billion comes from non-fee activity, such as the sale of frequent flier miles to program partners, and commissions earned on the sale of services to travelers, such as hotel accommodations and car rentals.

Click here to view the full report.

More Rental Operations

an exotic car wrapped in an insurance policy
Rental Operations•October 1, 2026

The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals

Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.

Read More →
globe of world and drivers license from UK
Rental Operations•September 28, 2026

The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?

For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.

Read More →
Scenes from Car Rental Shows past
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 23, 2026

ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers

The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
hand holding phone and Turo logo
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 21, 2026

Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service

Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.

Read More →
plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental Operations•September 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
map of europe and summer car rental rates
Rental Operations•September 11, 2026

European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country

Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.

Read More →
thumbnail of Chris Brown and Mike DeLorenzo with title Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 8, 2026

Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?

As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental Operations•September 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
Ad Loading...