According to the latest IdeaWorksCompany Yearbook of Ancillary Revenue, ancillary revenue for 58 tracked airlines grew by 13.4 percent between 2024 and 2025, adding $13.2 billion in a single year. This growth rate substantially outpaced the 7.2 percent gain in overall airline revenue during the same period. The data highlights that 30 airlines now generate at least $1 billion annually from ancillary products and services, compared with 27 carriers in the previous year's evaluation.
Ultra-low-cost carriers dominated the rankings when ancillary revenue was measured as a proportion of total company earnings. Frontier Airlines captured the top position for 2025, generating 60.2 percent of its revenue from ancillary items, meaning non-ticket sources generated more income than basic fare sales. Other low-cost carriers followed closely, including Spirit Airlines at 59.8 percent, Allegiant at 59.6 percent, and both Volaris and Breeze Airways at 55.4 percent, as low-cost business models increasingly encourage unbundled travel services.
For large full-service network airlines in the United States, frequent-flyer programs and co-branded credit card relationships served as major growth drivers. United Airlines generated $11.5 billion in ancillary revenue in 2025, representing a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year and the highest total amount among all carriers analyzed. Delta Air Lines generated approximately $10.8 billion, while American Airlines achieved $9.7 billion. Collectively, American, Delta, Southwest, and United generated $27.9 billion from frequent-flyer programs in 2025, averaging $37.72 per passenger.
In per-passenger performance, British leisure carrier Jet2.com set a historic benchmark by generating $100.73 per passenger in ancillary revenue, representing the highest figure recorded in the 19-year history of the Yearbook. Industry analysis indicates that seat selection fees and bundled branded fares have become primary drivers of this revenue growth, allowing airlines to monetize additional passenger choices after initial flight bookings.
