Data.ai Report Reveals Surge in Global Travel App Activity

Mobile data and analytics platform Data.ai, formerly known as App Annie, has released its latest report, providing insights into global app downloads, usage, and spending. The report highlights a notable increase in engagement with travel brands, particularly online travel agencies (OTAs).

According to the “State of Mobile 2024” report, travel app downloads exceeded 3 billion in 2023, marking a significant 13% rise from the previous year’s 2.7 billion.

Online Travel Agencies Lead the Pack

The category of integrated travel service apps, encompassing OTAs like Booking.com, Expedia, and Trip.com, experienced the most substantial surge in downloads, witnessing a 34% increase. Airline apps followed with a 23% rise, and hotel apps saw a respectable 16% growth.

Top Travel Apps Worldwide in 2023

The top five travel apps based on downloads globally in 2023 were Uber, Where Is My Train, Booking.com, InDrive, and Airbnb, according to the report.

However, when examining year-over-year aggregate growth, the top five travel apps in 2023 shifted to Railway 12306, Didi Chuxing, Qunar Travel, Ctrip, and Umetrip. Notably, all five are China-based apps, reflecting the reopening of travel in the region.

Increased Time Spent on Travel Apps Globally

Consumers worldwide are dedicating more time to travel apps. In 2023, the total time spent globally on travel apps surpassed 15.7 billion hours, a notable increase from 12.6 billion hours in 2022.

The report indicates that transportation apps like Uber and Lyft are the most commonly used travel apps. In the fourth quarter of 2023, worldwide app downloads for transportation apps reached 307 million, followed by 104 million for integrated travel service apps. Airline app downloads were 59 million, with hotel apps closely behind at 55 million.

Significant Growth Since Pre-Pandemic Levels

Comparing the 2023 figures with pre-pandemic levels in 2019, all categories of travel apps have seen substantial growth. Airline and rail/coach apps increased by 44%, hotel apps by 32%, and integrated travel service and transportation apps by 29% and 26%, respectively.

Data.ai’s analysis across app categories and the top 10 markets reveals that time spent on mobile surpassed five hours per day in 2023, marking a 6% increase. Marketers are taking note of this trend, with mobile ad spending rising by 8% in 2023, reaching $362 billion.