Three action-packed days at FTE EMEA & Ancillary & Retailing 2025 (10–12 June, RDS Dublin) underscored just how quickly our industry is evolving from a “seat-plus-bags” mindset to fully integrated, data-driven retailing. FareTrack’s parent company, Aggregate Intelligence, exhibited at the event, showcasing a powerful new suite of ancillary intelligence solutions for airlines.
Below are a few key themes that resonated most—drawing from both on-the-ground conversations and highlights in the official FTE roundup.
Ancillary Revenue Hits a New High—And Keeps Climbing
If there were still any doubts about the importance of ancillary revenue, the latest estimates puts global ancillary income at $117.9 billion USD in 2023—a staggering 275% increase since 2013 (source: rtscorp.com).
Low-cost carriers now generate 40–50% of their total income from extras, and legacy airlines are swiftly moving to close the gap.
What stood out in Dublin is how this growth is no longer confined to traditional add-ons like seats, bags, or frequent flyer miles. Product teams showcased innovations such as:
- Subscription-based “mobility passes” bundling rail, bus, or e-scooter credits with air itineraries
- Same-day baggage-to-door services targeting premium short-break travelers
- Contextual fintech offers—currency wallets, installment payments, carbon offsets—embedded directly into the booking path
Retail Ethics Take Center Stage
Panels focused on data ethics were notably better attended than in previous years. Speakers from IAG, Ryanair, and Meta acknowledged growing regulatory pressure and consumer scrutiny. Some of the most memorable insights included:
- “Consent fatigue is real—simplify your value exchange.” (IAG Ventures)
- “You don’t need to know a passenger’s heart rate to sell them Wi-Fi.” (Ryanair Labs)
At Aggregate Intelligence, this shift validates our own philosophy: our datasets operate at a market-level, not a personal level, enabling airlines to benchmark and price more intelligently—without touching personally identifiable information (PII).
Collaboration and Community as Growth Engines
FTE’s signature social program—from the BrewDog ice-breaker to the awards reception at Café en Seine—was more than just fun, It reflected a broader shift from isolated optimization toward ecosystem collaboration. For data providers like us, this collaborative mindset opens up richer partnerships—such as real-time ancillary benchmarking alerts delivered straight into pricing engines or traveler-facing apps.
So, Where Do We Go from Here?
One takeaway from Dublin stood out clearly: retail excellence and ethical data use are now inseparable. Airlines that master segment-specific offers, transparent value exchanges, and open-API ecosystems will be best positioned to capture the next wave of revenue—without alienating passengers or regulators.
At Aggregate Intelligence, we’re committed to powering that future. Whether you’re optimizing bag-fee elasticity for families, benchmarking seat-selection attach rates across competitive routes, or tracking the rise of subscription passes across EMEA, we turn raw ancillary data into actionable insights.
