Why 2025 Will be the Hardest Year But for Holiday Travel

The vacation season is already a demanding time to journey, however 2025 is predicted to current a complete new set of challenges. A singular calendar quirk and record-setting demand are converging to create what could possibly be the busiest journey season ever. The excellent news? With the fitting planning and the fitting Private Aviation Advisor, you’ll be able to nonetheless fly seamlessly by way of all of it.

Why 2025 Will Break Travel Records

The knowledge is plain:

• Labor Day 2025 set the tone for this coming vacation season. According to WingX knowledge, Part 135 site visitors (non-public jets flying beneath FAA guidelines for on-demand constitution) was up over 7% in North America this 12 months in comparison with 2024.
• Also in keeping with WingX, summer time 2025 as a complete noticed elevated Part 135 site visitors globally.
• The TSA simply set an all-time single-day screening record: 3,096,797 individuals screened on June 22, 2025, and the best each day whole ever recorded. This signifies that industrial air journey has turn out to be a poor choice for any traveler who values effectivity and reliability.

Now layer this record-setting site visitors onto a calendar that locations each December 26, 2025, and January 2, 2026, on Fridays: two traditional “return days” already liable to the best ranges of congestion seen all 12 months.

“December 26th and January 2nd both fall on a Friday this year. It’s going to complicate travel in both weeks,” explains Steve Ciancio, Senior Vice President, Private Aviation Solutions at Magellan Jets. “If you leave around noon on December 26th, expect a delay. Book earlier in the morning or later in the evening, or work with your Private Aviation Advisor to find a day that will help you circumnavigate this traffic altogether.”

Why Booking Now Matters

Yes, at Magellan Jets you’ll be able to ebook in little as 48 hours’ discover; however ready that lengthy virtually ensures compromises. Here’s what you acquire by planning your vacation journey forward:

“The more time you give us, the better experience we can create, the higher quality aircraft we can provide, and the better probability of upgrading you to something in a larger cabin at no additional cost,” Ciancio says.

• Avoiding repositioning prices. Operators scramble to maneuver planes final minute, usually including expensive “dead-legs” that may double hourly charges. Booking now secures better-positioned jets.
• Flexibility for households. It’s frequent for unanticipated passenger must come up for Holiday journeys. Early reserving retains interchange choices open so you’ll be able to upsize cabins once you add friends or gear.
• Calendar certainty. Magellan has zero blackout days and solely 5 Advanced Booking Days (ABDs) left in 2025. With simply 5 days’ discover, you’ll not pay a premium in your flight.
• Rate safety. Industry costs usually rise in This fall. Locking in a Magellan Jet Card now means you’ll fly by way of 2026 at 2025 pricing, saving cash and securing assured entry. Additionally, as plane demand dwindles, Charter costs surge the nearer you ebook to your departure.

What Happens If You Wait to Book

• Inventory dries up. Aircraft homeowners normally launch vacation schedules simply 30–45 days out. By then, competitors is fierce.
• Premiums surge. Waiting means becoming a member of a bidding battle for restricted raise.
• Operational “gotchas.” Curfews, daylight-only restrictions within the Caribbean, and weather-related airport diversions all turn out to be extra expensive when choices are restricted.

“Don’t wait until everyone’s realizing they need a jet for Christmas and New Year’s—you’re in a bidding war then,” Ciancio warns.

Pro Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Flight

• Call your Private Aviation Advisor now: Share your headcount, baggage (skis, golf golf equipment, strollers), and most well-liked dates.
• Fly sensible outbound: Target early-AM flights on Dec 24 or 25 to skip peak site visitors or discover one other day completely to keep away from record-level site visitors and potential delays.
• Pay consideration to Advanced Booking Days: With 5 days’ discover, you’ll keep away from premiums and maintain assured raise.
• Plan alternates: Your Private Aviation Advisor and Client Experience workforce is at all times on name that can assist you navigate unanticipated logistical hurdles which will come up. Aspen closures? Stage at Rifle or Eagle. Caribbean after darkish? Land in St. Maarten or San Juan. Magellan shoppers worth the peace of thoughts in the course of the holidays realizing they are going to by no means be stranded.

FAQs: Holiday Private Jet Travel

Why ought to I ebook my vacation journey now if I can wait till December?
Waiting means fewer plane choices, increased repositioning charges, and no likelihood of complimentary upgrades. Early bookings safe higher plane and defend in opposition to surcharges.

What are Advanced Booking Days (ABDs)?
Advanced Booking Days are days the place non-public jet operators require superior discover to ebook peak journey days. Magellan’s Advanced Booking Days require 5 days’ discover however fees no further premium.

What if I want so as to add vacationers to my jet final minute?
Early reserving ensures interchangeability into bigger plane. Without it, you threat being caught with too-small cabins or no improve availability.

How do charge locks assist me?
Magellan lets shoppers lock 2025 Jet Card hourly charges now and fly by way of 2026, shielding you from typical year-end value hikes.

Can I cancel my non-public flight if plans change?
Not all operators permit cancellation with out steep charges or an entire lack of your funding. Magellan Jets Jet Cards permit cancellations outdoors customary home windows (48 hours or 5 days on ABDs) with out penalty; one thing most ad-hoc constitution doesn’t supply in peak season.

How many blackout days does InternetJets have?
InternetJets’ jet card program usually contains about 90 blackout days per 12 months—that means almost one-quarter of the calendar is off-limits, together with pivotal vacation journey dates. Magellan Jets affords zero blackout days, with assured availability year-round.

The Bottom Line

2025 is about to be the one of many busiest vacation journey years in historical past, with record-breaking demand and unfortunate Friday return dates. But your vacation doesn’t must be demanding.

With early planning and the steering of a Magellan Private Aviation Advisor, you’ll be able to safe assured plane, keep away from surcharges, and even improve to bigger cabins; all whereas locking right this moment’s charges by way of 2026.

“A small timing change and a proper plan make all the difference,” says Ciancio. “Give us a little lead time, and we’ll engineer a much better holiday for you and your family.”

Ready to safe your vacation flights? Speak with a Magellan Private Aviation Advisor right this moment to plan your journey.

About Steve Ciancio

Steve Ciancio is the Senior Vice President of Private Aviation Solutions at Magellan Jets. With over a decade of personal aviation expertise at Magellan, Steve is acknowledged for his potential to translate advanced operational challenges into seamless, stress-free journey experiences for shoppers.