“Gap Years” are becoming more and more common amongst the younger generation, with this typically being a year before or after university or work to explore the world and travel. In the United Kingdom, out of 577,725 university offers made in the 2025-26 academic year, 36,925 students deferred their offers. Reports state that most of these deferrals were due to individuals’ desire to travel, according to the BBC.
Why Take a Gap Year?
Gap years are no longer just a brief pause between studies, but a growing cultural and economic force that’s helping to fuel international travel demand and reshape global mobility patterns. In 2026, an estimated 72% of gap year participants will travel internationally, with many engaging in backpacking, volunteering, internships, and cultural exchange programmes across multiple countries during their time off, according to Kilroy.
This means that tens of thousands of flights and transit routes are booked each year as part of broader gap year plans, according to Gitnux (a data-driven market research platform). Now, nearly one in four members of Gen Z are planning gap years during their lives, increasing travel volume outside traditional educational timelines, according to Kilroy’s Gap Year Travel Trend Report.
Victoria Chitongo, a medical student at Oxford University, stated to the BBC, that:
“Gap years are not a waste of time or just a lack of decision as to what you want to do in your life, they can actually be really strategic.”
How Gap Years Are Shaping the Aviation Industry
The trend towards extended and multi‑destination gap year journeys has encouraged airlines and alliances to promote around‑the‑world or multi‑stop fare options that help travellers budget for long‑term trips across continents, according to the BBC. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that young adults (aged 18-34) are leading the post‑pandemic rebound in air travel.
In the UK, 65% of this age group flew in 2023, compared with under half of people aged 55 and over, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Subsequently, highlighting youth travel as a key driver of flight volumes. Airlines are supporting this trend, with several major airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Lufthansa, offering student, youth, or flexible fares suitable for gap years, featuring benefits like offering up to a 10% discount on extra baggage and complimentary changes. These carriers, often utilised for long-haul travel, provide flexible booking options for young travellers.
Gap years can have a positive impact on the aviation industry, as they often encourage increased travel among the younger generations. This can contribute to higher passenger demand, particularly on long-haul and multi-destination routes. Encouraging younger generations to travel may help airlines and airports build early brand recognition and customer familiarity, which could influence future travel choices.
