- Travel sales for 2026 expected to finish lower than 2025
- S-Networks Global Travel Index down 7.97pc year-to-date
- PwC reports holiday travel spending slashed by 24pc
- Irish holiday sales anticipated below 2025 levels
- Families can save almost €1,000 travelling in September
Travel sales for 2026 are expected to finish lower than the previous year as cost pressures, unpredictable weather patterns and shifting consumer habits squeeze the global tourism industry. This decline comes after a record-breaking 2025 where global travel hit historic peaks. Reflecting this downturn, the S-Networks Global Travel Index has dropped by approximately 7.97pc year-to-date trading down to 1,299.57.
Key drivers of the slowdown include unprecedented inflation and hidden costs with holiday flight prices tracking higher in 2026 due to fuel shocks, tight aircraft supplies and diminished competition from low-cost carriers. Traditional autumn shoulder season discounts have essentially vanished with domestic airfares up 1pc compared to summer peaks. Intense summer heatwaves across Southern Europe have begun restructuring peak travel seasons with travelers increasingly avoiding July and August and pushing their bookings into September and October.
A PwC consumer trends report notes that holiday travel spending is being slashed by 24pc with millennials scaling back the most pulling travel expenditures down by 37pc. Irish travel companies anticipate that overall holiday sales for 2026 will end the year below 2025 levels after a slower start in the first half. Research shows families can save almost €1,000 by travelling in September rather than August with average package prices falling from €632 to €383 per person.
