Booking a holiday helps lift the January blues for 73% of Irish adults

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 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.

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.

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.