By IFX Payments
The UK travel sector is promising, but resilience is key. Economic volatility shapes the industry’s future, from inflationary pressures to shifting consumer behaviour. While demand for international travel is rising— 41% of UK travellers plan longer overseas trips in 2025 — businesses that fail to adapt may struggle.
Ryanair and IAG’s reluctance to provide 2025 forecasts underscores how unpredictable the economic landscape remains. Currency fluctuations, rising interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty can all impact costs, profitability, and cash flow. With more than 95% of UK travel agencies classified as small businesses, these risks are magnified.
At IFX, we help travel operators navigate these challenges by providing efficient international payment solutions designed to cut costs, improve cash flow, and mitigate FX risk. Our research reveals that UK SMEs process an average of £2.4 million in FX transactions annually, yet nearly 70% still rely on traditional banks, paying unnecessary fees and facing slow transactions.
Why IFX Payments?
🔹 Protect Your Margins: Access competitive FX rates and avoid unnecessary conversion fees.
🔹 Faster Payments: Pay global suppliers efficiently with access to SEPA, SWIFT, and FPS rails.
🔹 Improved Cash Flow: Use virtual IBANs to manage multi-currency funds seamlessly.
🔹 Bulk Payments Made Easy: Automate transactions to suppliers, saving time and reducing admin overhead.
With BA investing £7 billion into digital transformation, the importance of seamless payments has never been clearer. Yet, most travel businesses don’t need massive budgets to unlock these efficiencies. The right payments partner can drive real savings and operational improvements today.
Find out more about the landscape for the travel sector in our 2025 outlook here.
