A closer look at the market.
The Passenger Journey is Bigger than a List of Ad Formats
Airlines have valuable audiences and many ways to reach them. The bigger opportunity comes from connecting those touchpoints around the passenger journey.
The power of inflight media
Travel media can reach people during trip planning through digital, travel and out-of-home opportunities, continue at airports and lounges near departure, and appear onboard through airline formats. The right mix depends on audience fit, campaign objective and confirmed inventory.
Start With the Audience, Not the Ad Space
Advertisers usually know who they want to reach. Airlines create more value when the sales conversation starts there, rather than with a list of available placements.
The Best Brand Partnerships Give Passengers More
The strongest airline partnerships do more than place a brand in front of passengers. They connect with their interests, needs or aspirations through something useful, relevant or memorable.
Turning Passenger Attention Into Action
Reaching the passenger is only the first step. The stronger opportunity is to offer a useful and natural next action, without turning every part of the journey into a sales pitch.
Better Measurement Makes Airline Media More Valuable
Airline media has valuable audiences and distinctive environments. Clear objectives, sensible measures and honest reporting help advertisers understand that value and invest with greater confidence.
Why context matters in premium travel media
Reaching travellers is only the starting point. Cabin, route, format and the moment an advertisement appears all influence how a message is received. AIM looks at the full passenger experience to recommend placements that fit the brand and the audience, then builds a practical plan around the creative and campaign objective.
Understanding airline media opportunities in China
China’s major carriers offer several ways to connect with travellers, including premium seatback screens, overhead monitors and publications such as China Eastern’s CONNECTIONS. The right mix depends on the audience, routes, timing and available inventory. AIM helps clients compare options across airlines and develop a clear brief for each opportunity.
Travel spending extends beyond the trip
A trip can influence purchases well beyond bookings. In a 2026 Harris Poll survey for Expedia Group, 62% of travellers said they had made a non-travel purchase because of their most recent major leisure trip, spending an average of US$500. The study found purchases before, during and after travel, with 72% of those who bought for their trip also making a purchase after returning. For marketers, it is a useful signal about traveller spending and brand discovery. It measures trip-related purchasing and advertising on travel sites and apps, not the direct effectiveness of airline inflight advertising.
Source: Expedia Group and The Harris Poll, 2026 . Survey of 3,500 travel decision-makers across seven markets, fielded February 24-25, 2026; commissioned by Expedia Group Advertising.