If there’s one thing air travelers made clear in 2025, it’s that they are clamoring for premium products on flights.
The largest carriers in the United States have all continuously reported significant upticks in booking for premium cabins throughout the year, as well as higher demand from loyalty customers and expansions to amenities like airport lounges and luxury check-in spaces.
The trend is part of a larger swing back toward full service flights, which passengers have been sorely missing in recent years, according to David Zipkin, co-founder and chief commercial officer of Tradewind Aviation, which offers private flights and scheduled, shared-charter service on short-haul routes.
“Over the last 20 years, I think the airlines were racing a little bit too much to provide the cheapest possible option,” Zipkin says. “And to do that, you have to take a lot of service out of the equation.”
Passengers today are voracious for more service and perks, even on shorter routes where that type of service can be hard to find. “What I think the industry missed is that people are looking for that on flights within the US regionally and so forth.”
Tradewind, which specializes in luxury short-haul flights, has seen its booking demand jump by 30% in 2025, according to Zipkin. “I think what’s surprising people in the traditional airline world is that people are willing to pay for [luxury]. That’s part of the reason we’re seeing this kind of big trend towards more premium travel is just because there was not enough of it before.”
Passengers on Tradewind have access to perks that traditional airlines don’t offer, such as utilizing quieter private terminals, allowing passengers to skip TSA lines, and an easy boarding process. The company operates a fleet of 36 Pilatus PC-12 aircraft that seat eight passengers with complimentary drinks and snacks on board.
But the carrier’s significant uptick in demand is also likely part of a larger shift that air travel is seeing, with many passengers “prioritizing quicker, shorter trips over the longer haul trips, for various reasons,” like less paid time off, says Zipkin. The carrier operates routes between New York and Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket; South Florida and The Bahamas; and flights between seven Caribbean islands.
Many people are also still prioritizing seeing family and friends, a trend that will likely continue into 2026. “Particularly coming out of the pandemic, I think that a lot of that has been prioritized more by people because it was kind of a wake up call when we were all stuck at home for so long.”
Dovetailing with demand for shorter trips is the fact that travelers want more lavish service across experiences, even if the flight is only a quick hop. “I think the pendulum swung too far towards barebones economy, just generally speaking, and it created a pent-up demand for a higher level of service.” Zipkin says. “The airlines are catching up to that.”
Larger US carriers are starting to make even their regional flights more plush. American Airlines, for one, is upgrading its fleet of regional jets to bring them more in line with the experience on their mainline aircraft. Across its Bombardier CRJ900 and Embraer 175 and those operated by its regional subsidiary carriers, American will refresh cabins with new seat covers, power outlets at every seat, and Wi-Fi that’s fast and free. The carrier is bringing its new Flagship business class suites to their first domestic route from New York to Los Angeles this December.
JetBlue is also significantly expanding its premium capacity within the US, especially at its focus airport in Fort Lauderdale, where it will roll out a total of 25 daily flights featuring its Mint business class cabins before the end of 2025, with the majority of those flights on domestic routes.
But the regional market is still underserved by large airlines, according to Zipkin, especially in the luxury sector, as some carriers have cut back on short-haul routes in recent years. “There’s a big gap in the marketplace, and that’s where we aim to really bring more and more regional routes, both in the Northeast, the Southeast, and The Bahamas. We’re growing to meet that demand.”
In December, Tradewind plans to expand its route network by launching new scheduled, shared-charter routes to The Bahamas Out Islands of Marsh Harbour and North Eleuthera from Fort Lauderdale. It will also launch new service from Florida’s Stuart Airport to Nassau. Round-trip fares on the new routes for January travel dates are available starting at about $600.
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