Booking a holiday helps lift the January blues for 73% of Irish adults, new research finds

Aer Lingus research highlights an increase in AI for travel planning and strong early demand for 2026 travel as January Sale launches.

Key Research Findings

• 73% say booking a holiday early helps lift the January blues or improves their mood
• 85% say it is important to book a trip early in the year so they have something to look forward to
• 34% of Irish adults have used AI to help plan a holiday, up from 21% last year
• 36% plan to prioritise frequent short breaks in 2026
• 45% of 18–34 year olds say TikTok inspires their travel choices
• 27% would consider travelling to the World Cup in 2026 if Ireland qualifies

New research* for Aer Lingus shows that holiday planning plays an important role for many people at the start of the year, with almost three quarters of Irish adults (73%) saying that booking a holiday early helps lift the January blues or improves their mood. The survey also found that 85% say it is important to book a trip early in the year so they have something to look forward to.

The findings are released as Aer Lingus launches its January Sale, with flights to North America available from €179 each way and savings of up to 25% on flights across the UK and Europe.

Short breaks, sunshine and World Cup travel shape 2026 plans

Looking ahead to 2026, Irish people are planning a mix of trips across the year. More than a third (36%) say they plan to prioritise frequent short breaks, compared with 20% who expect to take one long holiday, while 33% plan a combination of both.

Sun, sea and sand holidays (65%) and city breaks (54%) remain the most popular types of trips. Almost half of respondents (48%) say they are most likely to travel during the shoulder season rather than peak summer months, with families with school-age children more likely to plan travel during peak periods.

Long haul travel continues to feature strongly in Irish travel plans. One in three respondents (34%) say they are planning a trip to the US, Canada or Mexico in 2026, with a further 22% considering it. Despite this interest, only 10% say they have already booked so far, highlighting a significant window for early year planning and booking.

Major sporting events are also featuring in travel plans for 2026. More than a quarter of Irish adults (27%) say they would consider travelling to the World Cup if Ireland qualifies.

AI and social media reshaping travel planning

The research also shows rapid growth in the use of AI for holiday planning. More than a third of Irish adults (34%) say they have now used AI tools such as ChatGPT to help plan a trip, up from 21% in research* conducted for the airline during the same period last year

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Adoption has been particularly strong among younger adults. Almost half of those aged 18–34 (49%) say they have already used AI to plan a holiday, while 45% say TikTok inspires their travel choices, making it the most cited source of inspiration for this age group. Friends and family are also a key source of travel inspiration, used by half (47%) of adults in Ireland.

January Sale

Aer Lingus’ January Sale includes flights to North America from €179 each way, with up to 25% off flights across the UK and Europe.

North American fares apply to travel between 1 February and 27 May 2026, including destinations such as New York, Chicago, Toronto, Nashville and the airline’s new route to Cancún, Mexico, launching in early January.

To secure the best fares, flights must be booked before midnight on 20 January, with offers applying to flights booked seven days or more before travel.

Full details of the January Sale are available at www.aerlingus.com.

*Research conducted by 3Gem Media Group via a survey of 1,000 adults aged 18+ in the Republic of Ireland, December 2025. Comparative data based on Aer Lingus research conducted by 3Gem in December 2024.