There was a time—not too long ago—when travel reports were about as exciting as lukewarm airline coffee. But Trevolution Group’s H1 2025 results are anything but tepid. They’re piping hot, brimming with insight, and perhaps most strikingly, they reveal a generational and behavioural sea change in how the world takes flight.
From budget-conscious economy flyers to a bumper rise in business class bookings, from teenage globe-trotters to super-app devotees, Trevolution’s midyear performance reads like a travel novel penned by a younger, richer, and more strategic protagonist. And the setting? A globalised, tech-savvy, post-pandemic world with a firm grip on its carry-on bag and one eye on the upgrades.
A Booking Bonanza with a Side of Smarts
The numbers speak volumes—in this case, in a confident, first-class tone. Trevolution Group, the parent of brands such as ASAP Tickets, Skylux Travel, Triplicity, Dreamport, and the fast-growing Oojo, reported gross bookings of US$627.41 million in the first half of 2025.
A staggering 508,333 airline tickets were issued—just a hairline (0.41%) below last year’s mark, but still a healthy 16.8% leap from 2023. That, dear reader, is no small feat when you’re moving half a million people worldwide.
Economy class continues to dominate the skies with 450,912 tickets, but business class is flying high, up 32% year-on-year, with 57,421 premium bookings issued. Even in an age of inflation, there’s still an appetite for a flatbed and a Champagne pour at 35,000 feet.
The One-Way Revolution
In a twist worthy of a Eurail drama, one-way tickets now represent nearly 30% of bookings—up from 28.25% last year. Round-trips still have the lion’s share (70.37%), but this modest shift hints at something more profound: flexibility, digital nomadism, perhaps even a spontaneous streak. Trevolution isn’t just ferrying travellers from A to B; it’s accommodating the fluid, sometimes mysterious nature of how we live and move in 2025.
Destination (Re)Imagination
While old favourites like the Philippines, India, and the US continue to top the charts, Canada has bolted out of the gates like a Mountie on horseback—racking up a jaw-dropping 164% year-on-year increase in bookings. Mexico and Vietnam also enjoyed robust growth (58.97% and 49.99% respectively), confirming a curious traveller’s pivot towards rich cultures, affordability, and safer political landscapes.
Conversely, Italy, once a golden goose for outbound bookings, saw a sharp 24% decline. Could it be that travellers have swapped Roman holidays for Canadian hikes and Vietnamese street eats? If so, la dolce vita might just be getting a digital detox.
Departure Trends: Canada’s Encore
And it’s not just the destinations that are changing—the departure lounge is shifting too. Canada again takes the spotlight with a 91.96% spike in originating passengers, while India saw a noticeable drop of 27.55%. The United Kingdom increased a modest 5.05%, and the Philippines surged 11.13%, reinforcing its VFR (Visiting Friends & Relatives) travel strength.
NDC Takes Flight
On the distribution front, Trevolution is shedding its analogue skin. A complete 8.4% of tickets were issued via NDC (New Distribution Capability), up from 5.6% a year ago. By June, that figure soared to 10.9%—a clear signal that travel tech isn’t just evolving; it’s accelerating.
The Group’s move from traditional EDIFACT systems to NDC reflects a broader trend in modernising airline retailing—something legacy carriers have been historically slow to adopt, but Trevolution is embracing with gusto.
The Premium Traveller Emerges
Here’s the twist in the tale: travellers are not just getting younger—they’re also getting pickier. Business class demand jumped 32.43%, while economy dropped by 3.46%. Round-trip bookings are declining slightly, and one-way tickets are gaining ground. All of these points to a new kind of traveller: spontaneous yet intentional, frugal yet indulgent, practical yet aspirational.
And they’re planning, too. Over 31% of passengers booked trips more than 90 days in advance. But the sweet spot? The 21–30 day window grew 7.41%. Add to that a 5.25% rise in 11–20 day bookings and a subtle uptick in 31–40 day trips, and you have what Alex Weinstein, founder of Dyninno Group, calls the “deliberate traveller.”
“We’re seeing a more deliberate traveller emerge—one who plans earlier, travels slightly shorter but more often, and seeks a balance between value and comfort,” Weinstein explains. “That’s why our newest creation, super-app Dreampass, is taking off so rapidly.”
And take off it has. Dreampass now boasts more than 37,000 members—a number as glossy as a new passport. More than just a tool for booking flights, Dreampass is Trevolution’s answer to all-in-one travel control—faster services. Better prices. One interface. And—if we dare say it—a rather dashing user experience.
Youth on the Move
Here’s a stat to make the boomers blush: travellers aged 11–20 now make up 10.45% of bookings, up from 9.88%. The 21–30 bracket grew, too, now sitting at 9.21%. But in a truly Needham-esque twist, the data shows that seniors aged 90+ (yes, you read that correctly) still lead the charge in total volume at 31.19%. That’s not just longevity—it’s loyalty. And quite possibly, a refusal to let the young ones have all the fun.
The Verdict
Trevolution Group’s H1 2025 performance is less a report and more a reflection of a shifting zeitgeist. One where travel is no longer just an escape—it’s an extension of identity. One where younger travellers are spending more, flying smarter, and booking faster. And where the industry is being reshaped not by chance but by choice.
With its stronghold in VFR, growing premium clientele, and the rise of Dreampass, Trevolution Group isn’t just keeping up—it’s confidently charting the route ahead.
As for the rest of the industry? One suspects they’re still fumbling with the tray table.
By Kevin Hall
