Air travel reached record heights despite a rocky 2024 that included a handful of widespread flight cancellations, tragic accidents and near-misses highlighted by Boeing's 737 MAX debacle.
While inclement weather and unpredictable IT outages will keep passengers on their toes in 2025, efforts are being made to make air travel safer and more seamless.
Here are some notable changes coming to air travel in the year ahead.
New DOT Rule on Refunds
One of the Biden administration's biggest contributions to travelers has been the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) new rule regarding airline refunds.
The final rule on automatic refunds went into effect in late October 2024, making it much easier for impacted passengers to be reimbursed when their flights are canceled or significantly altered in 2025.
Frustrated traveler waiting for flight. (Photo Credit: Alina Rosanova/Adobe)
The hope is that these new requirements will eliminate the need for passengers to explicitly request refunds or jump through any hoops. Travelers are also entitled to refunds when their checked baggage is significantly delayed or a carrier fails to provide ancillary services that a customer purchased.
REAL ID Requirements To Take Effect
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin enforcing REAL ID requirements at airport security checkpoints nationwide starting May 7, 2025.
That means only state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards that meet the security requirements established by the REAL ID Act will be permitted for boarding commercial aircraft. However, travelers without a compliant driver's license can still board with a valid passport.
Travelers placing items in bins at TSA security line. (photo by Eric Bowman)
"Identity verification is foundational to security. I urge those who use a driver’s license or state-issued identity card as their primary form of identification to access federal facilities or board commercial passenger aircraft, to ensure these credentials are REAL ID-compliant," said TSA Administrator David Pekoske.
"We are committed to engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025, which this rule supports."
TSA will use a phased approach to enforcement. Nonetheless, all states are now issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Southwest Airlines' Transformation
For a long time, Southwest Airlines was the outlier among major airlines. It offered some of the lowest fares in the industry, allowed two free bags, and allowed travelers to pick their own seats.
Financial struggles forced the carrier to change direction in 2024, however, as Southwest revealed plans for an overhaul that will see it implement assigned seating like every other airline.
Southwest Airlines plane landing at Baltimore/Washington International Airport. (Photo Credit: Patrick Clarke)
The low-cost carrier will start selling those seats in the second half of 2025 with assigned seating taking effect in early 2026.
While that has pros and cons, Southwest will also debut a premium seating option that's certain to be a hit with travelers willing to spend a little more cash.
"Southwest will offer extra legroom options with up to five additional inches of pitch for approximately a third of its seats while maintaining a standard economy seat pitch among the best in the industry," the airline said during an Investor Day meeting in Dallas with Southwest leaders this past September.
Fewer Firearms Seized?
TSA continues to uncover a head-scratching number of firearms each year but 2024 produced encouraging trend (if you can call it that).
Officers intercepted 6,678 firearms at airport security checkpoints nationwide last year, which was down from the 6,737 seized in 2023.
Xray of luggage with a hidden pistol (Photo Credit: Thomas / Adobe Stock)
Not taking into account the COVID year of 2020, the figure had been climbing each year over the past decade so there's hope for more improvement in 2025.
While it's scary that 94 percent of those weapons seized in 2024 were loaded, the figure breaks down to an average of 18.2 firearms per day and 7.4 passengers per one million screened.
More Mergers and Drink Limits at Airports?
While there are undoubtedly some unforeseen changes coming to air travel in 2025 some potential impacts to watch for include more mergers following Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines approved merger in September 2024.
That acquisition followed a blocked proposed merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, which also involved Frontier Airlines.
Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 taking off from Texas' Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. (photo courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines)
Some within the industry are also pushing for drink limits at airport bars to reduce unruly passenger incidents. Ryanair recently sought out a two-drink limit across Europe.
"It is time that EU authorities take action to limit the sale of alcohol at airports. Airlines, like Ryanair, already restrict and limit the sale of alcohol on board our aircraft, particularly in disruptive passenger cases," the airline said following a costly diversion due to a disruptive passenger.
If 2025 is anything like 2024, the next 12 months are poised to feature many ups and downs for travelers taking to the friendly skies. Some key changes are certain but there's a lot that remains to be seen.
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