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

50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Rental Length Declines Slightly in Q1 2026, Enterprise Reports

LOR overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
A black Audi SUV superimposed on a historic scene from downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Carwiz Sets Up Rental Operations In Central Asia

The global franchise operation reaches a first in its rental fleet portfolio with new service in Uzbekistan.

Read More →
A raging brushfire in the countryside.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 30, 2026

Where Rental Fleets Must Adjust To Shifting Catastrophe Risks

West Coast disasters pose unique challenges and liabilities for rental fleet operators, who are advised to take steps tailored to their specific situations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ARN Industry Newsmakers thumbnail page with ARN and ICRS logos and shots of Nick DiPrima and Martin Romjue
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 27, 2026

Using AI To Find Rental Car Damage

Angry car renters are storming social media, the mainstream media, and online ratings platforms to complain about charges they claim are either unfounded or excessive.

Read More →
Photo of CEO Krešimir Dobrilović against a gray modernist crooked-tile mural display.

Carwiz Opens Car Rental Service In Panama

A Carwiz partner in Puerto Rico is taking on the Panama franchise with operations in the nation's largest airport.

Read More →
A world map with Flexways logo and new locations headline.

Flexways Opens 10 Locations Among Franchise, Affiliate Rental Networks

The integrated business model combines each operator’s local expertise with international standards to boost sales.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of a suitcase, passport, and smartphone.

Traveler Customer Satisfaction Up This Year Data Study Shows

The study looks at customer analytics to size up performance in car rentals, rideshare, airlines, lodging, and OTAs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...