File pic: PA
So what’s driving the trend?
A combination of better and more frequent train services, higher Air Passenger Duty tax, concern about the environmental impact of flying, and changing work patterns – especially since the pandemic – have all played a part.
Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO, said the results showed a «staggering change in the way we travel throughout the UK».
«Airlines have responded by reducing their internal services and prioritising more popular destinations including Spain, France, and Italy,» he added.
Twenty years ago, Britain’s skies were busy with short domestic hops – British Airways (BA) and British Midland (bmi) shuttled passengers between London and the regions, and Flybe’s purple planes connected cities like Exeter, Leeds, Norwich, and Southampton.
Counting the cost
The impact of changing demand has been brutal.
Flybe, once Europe’s largest regional airline, has collapsed twice; bmi and its low-cost arm, bmibaby, is long gone; and several UK hubs have closed their commercial operations over the past 20 years, including Doncaster Sheffield in 2022, Blackpool in 2014 and Plymouth in 2011.
Also, airlines have shifted their priorities to making greater profits from short-haul services beyond the UK.
Aviation consultant Gavin Eccles said key low-cost carriers, such as easyJet and Ryanair, «have been ordering larger aircraft which means they can fly longer sectors».
«They need to serve routes that are predominantly with strong ancillary options [baggage, seating] and domestic is more about commuting, so fewer chances to make extra revenues,» he explained.
Read more from Sky News:
Epstein called Trump ‘dangerous’
How AI-generated music is fooling us
Indeed, many surviving airports – like Southampton, Norwich, and Exeter – now rely mainly on seasonal leisure flights.
Domestic flights tend to be limited to feeder flights to long-distance hubs like Heathrow, Amsterdam, and Dublin, plus so-called lifeline-style services to remote regions, mostly in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Rail firms are benefitting, with passenger journeys rising from about 1.08 billion in 2005/06 to 1.73 billion in 2024/25 – an increase of around 60%, according to the Office of Rail and Road Data.
The image shows an Eastern Airways plane at Newcastle Airport in 2020, with the caption «File pic: PA» indicating the source of the image.
The decline in domestic UK flights over the past two decades has been significant, with the number of scheduled flights dropping from 454,375 in 2006 to 213,025 in 2025. This trend is in stark contrast to the continued growth of global air travel. Eastern Airways, a regional airline, recently went into administration, reflecting the diminishing demand for internal flights within the UK.
Various factors have contributed to this decline, including improvements in train services, higher Air Passenger Duty tax, environmental concerns related to flying, and changes in work patterns, especially following the pandemic. Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium, noted the «staggering change in the way we travel throughout the UK» as a result of these factors.
Airlines have adjusted their services in response to the changing demand, focusing on more popular destinations like Spain, France, and Italy. This shift has led to the discontinuation of many short domestic flights that were once common in Britain. Airlines have also prioritized profitability by emphasizing short-haul services beyond the UK.
The impact of changing demand has been harsh, with airlines such as Flybe and bmi facing collapses, and several UK airports ceasing commercial operations. Low-cost carriers like easyJet and Ryanair have adapted by ordering larger aircraft to fly longer routes with stronger ancillary options.
Surviving airports like Southampton, Norwich, and Exeter now rely heavily on seasonal leisure flights, while domestic flights within the UK are primarily feeder flights to major hubs like Heathrow, Amsterdam, and Dublin. Rail companies have seen an increase in passenger journeys over the years, indicating a shift towards alternative modes of transportation.
Despite the decline in domestic flights, the cost of air travel has remained relatively stable, with fares for popular routes like London to Edinburgh comparable to prices from two decades ago when adjusted for inflation. This suggests that cost is not the primary factor driving the decrease in internal flights within the UK.
In conclusion, the aviation industry in the UK has undergone significant changes in the past 20 years, with a notable decline in domestic flights. As passenger preferences, environmental concerns, and work patterns continue to evolve, airlines and airports are adapting to meet the shifting demands of travelers. File pic: PA
What is the driving force behind this trend? A combination of factors including improved and more frequent train services, higher Air Passenger Duty tax, concerns about the environmental impact of flying, and changing work patterns – especially since the pandemic – have all contributed. Jeremy Bowen, Cirium CEO, noted a significant shift in travel behavior in the UK.
«Airlines have adapted by reducing domestic services and focusing on popular destinations like Spain, France, and Italy,» he added. Two decades ago, domestic flights within the UK were common, with airlines like British Airways (BA) and British Midland (bmi) serving routes between London and regional cities, and Flybe connecting cities like Exeter, Leeds, Norwich, and Southampton.
The consequences of changing demand have been severe. Flybe, once Europe’s largest regional airline, has gone bankrupt twice; bmi and bmibaby are no longer in operation; and several UK airports have ceased commercial operations in the past two decades, including Doncaster Sheffield in 2022, Blackpool in 2014, and Plymouth in 2011.
Airlines have shifted their focus to increasing profits from short-haul flights outside the UK. Aviation consultant Gavin Eccles mentioned that major low-cost carriers like easyJet and Ryanair have been acquiring larger aircraft to operate longer routes. These carriers prioritize routes with additional revenue opportunities, such as baggage and seating fees, while domestic flights are more oriented towards commuting, limiting opportunities for extra income.
Surviving airports like Southampton, Norwich, and Exeter now primarily cater to seasonal leisure flights. Domestic flights are usually feeder flights to international hubs like Heathrow, Amsterdam, and Dublin, as well as essential services to remote regions, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Rail companies are experiencing growth, with passenger journeys increasing from around 1.08 billion in 2005/06 to 1.73 billion in 2024/25 – a rise of approximately 60%, according to data from the Office of Rail and Road.
SOURCE
