The Freefall in Bookings for Spring 2026
The barometer figures from EDV-Orchestra, published in April 2026, sketch a crisis landscape for the travel sector. March records a 15% drop in the number of bookings and a 19.4% decline in booking revenue, while departures are down 9.7% in the number of travelers.
Long-haul travel is particularly battered by tensions in the Middle East, with a 29% drop in bookings. The disruptions to Gulf hubs (United Arab Emirates and Qatar) are to blame, while Egypt and Turkey lose more than 66% of their bookings.
And for the summer of 2026, the outlook confirms this weakened trend: bookings for July–August are already 7% below last year in revenue. More telling still, the share of late bookings rises by 7% compared with 2025.
This dynamic weighs heavily on agencies and tour operators: March and April, traditionally key months for locking in summer sales, prove disappointing, creating unprecedented pressure on cash flow.
Long-haul travel is particularly battered by tensions in the Middle East, with a 29% drop in bookings. The disruptions to Gulf hubs (United Arab Emirates and Qatar) are to blame, while Egypt and Turkey lose more than 66% of their bookings.
And for the summer of 2026, the outlook confirms this weakened trend: bookings for July–August are already 7% below last year in revenue. More telling still, the share of late bookings rises by 7% compared with 2025.
This dynamic weighs heavily on agencies and tour operators: March and April, traditionally key months for locking in summer sales, prove disappointing, creating unprecedented pressure on cash flow.
Installment payments, an immediate lever in the face of the crisis
In this tense context, installment payments (or BNPL, “buy now pay later”) emerge as an immediate operational response. First lever: remove budget constraints as prices soar. The average cart for summer 2026 already reaches €3,040, and long-haul packages are soaring due to the combined effects of rising jet fuel costs and tightening air capacity.
In this setup, the ability to split the payment into 2, 3 or 4 installments without fees dramatically changes the perception of cost. Sector data compiled by Alma confirms: BNPL leads to a 20% increase in the average cart for packages that combine transport and lodging. This uptick signals a psychological shift: rather than giving up in the face of a high price, the customer authorizes the trip initially planned by smoothing the financial outlay.
Second lever, crucial in the 2026 context: supporting the late-booking shift. The hesitancy linked to current uncertainty translates into an explosion of last-minute bookings, at the moment when prices are the highest. In this setup, installment payments offer this flexibility in a few clicks, with the same ease as a cash payment, even for substantial sums. Contrary to common beliefs that BNPL is limited to small baskets, solutions like Alma accept transactions up to €15,000, thus covering most family needs and even premium segments.
Third dimension often underestimated: adaptation to multichannel. Alma’s data thus show that 40% of installment payments in the travel sector are made at physical agencies. Just as during the Covid crisis, periods of uncertainty see customers favor human contact in agencies or by phone to be reassured. Alma supports this dynamic by enabling networks to offer installment payments across all channels, ensuring a consistent experience no matter the contact point.
In this setup, the ability to split the payment into 2, 3 or 4 installments without fees dramatically changes the perception of cost. Sector data compiled by Alma confirms: BNPL leads to a 20% increase in the average cart for packages that combine transport and lodging. This uptick signals a psychological shift: rather than giving up in the face of a high price, the customer authorizes the trip initially planned by smoothing the financial outlay.
Second lever, crucial in the 2026 context: supporting the late-booking shift. The hesitancy linked to current uncertainty translates into an explosion of last-minute bookings, at the moment when prices are the highest. In this setup, installment payments offer this flexibility in a few clicks, with the same ease as a cash payment, even for substantial sums. Contrary to common beliefs that BNPL is limited to small baskets, solutions like Alma accept transactions up to €15,000, thus covering most family needs and even premium segments.
Third dimension often underestimated: adaptation to multichannel. Alma’s data thus show that 40% of installment payments in the travel sector are made at physical agencies. Just as during the Covid crisis, periods of uncertainty see customers favor human contact in agencies or by phone to be reassured. Alma supports this dynamic by enabling networks to offer installment payments across all channels, ensuring a consistent experience no matter the contact point.
Why over 410 operators have already embraced Alma
BNPL is now widely adopted in the travel sector. More than 410 operators currently trust Alma, including industry heavyweights: SNCF Connect, Sunweb, KLM, Perfect Stay, Weekendesk, Compagnie des Alpes, Showroomprivé, Corsica Ferry, Campings.com, and GNV.
The results speak for themselves: +10% in acquiring new customers, 15 to 30% of revenue generated via BNPL depending on the period, +6% loyalty. Installment payments facilitate the purchase decision at every stage, from discovery to repeat bookings.
This performance rests on a scoring model tailored to travel specifics. In a sector with high baskets and sometimes impulsive decisions, Alma has developed industry expertise that guarantees the maximum acceptance rate without increasing risk exposure.
The results speak for themselves: +10% in acquiring new customers, 15 to 30% of revenue generated via BNPL depending on the period, +6% loyalty. Installment payments facilitate the purchase decision at every stage, from discovery to repeat bookings.
This performance rests on a scoring model tailored to travel specifics. In a sector with high baskets and sometimes impulsive decisions, Alma has developed industry expertise that guarantees the maximum acceptance rate without increasing risk exposure.
When Installment Payments Become Essential
Beyond the cyclical response to the current crisis, BNPL is thus part of a durable transformation of consumer behavior. Today’s travelers refuse to choose between anticipation and flexibility. They want to be able to book at the moment they deem opportune, with payment options suited to their personal situation.
In a market that remains volatile, installment payments offer a structural answer. They turn uncertainty into a commercial opportunity by supporting new behaviors rather than letting them be dictated by conditions.
For travel professionals, Alma is no longer just an option but a permanent lever for commercial steering. In times of crisis, the solution secures sales by lifting budget barriers and supporting the late booking. In growth phases, it maximizes the average cart and improves loyalty.
While fuel surcharges accumulate and prices are not expected to revert immediately to pre-crisis levels, waiting for customers to get used to new rates is not a strategy. Alma offers an immediate solution to unlock sales: ease purchasing by smoothing the financial outlay, even for baskets now exceeding €3,000. More than 410 operators have already made this choice.
In a market that remains volatile, installment payments offer a structural answer. They turn uncertainty into a commercial opportunity by supporting new behaviors rather than letting them be dictated by conditions.
For travel professionals, Alma is no longer just an option but a permanent lever for commercial steering. In times of crisis, the solution secures sales by lifting budget barriers and supporting the late booking. In growth phases, it maximizes the average cart and improves loyalty.
While fuel surcharges accumulate and prices are not expected to revert immediately to pre-crisis levels, waiting for customers to get used to new rates is not a strategy. Alma offers an immediate solution to unlock sales: ease purchasing by smoothing the financial outlay, even for baskets now exceeding €3,000. More than 410 operators have already made this choice.
Would you like to learn more or propose Alma to your clients?
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