Health-conscious younger travellers are transforming departure lounge habits, with sales of matcha green tea soaring 165% at UK airports this year, according to Manchester Airport Group. The group, which operates Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports, reported that passengers are increasingly opting for wholesome alternatives over traditional pre-flight pints.
Sales of gut health shots rose 102%, while super smoothie sales increased by 650% compared to last year. The trend is driven by Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, who are influenced by social media platforms like TikTok, where matcha is promoted as a wellness drink. In-flight skincare has also gained popularity, with sales of face masks up 399% amid a 'skincare in the sky' craze.
Andrew MacMillan, chief strategy officer at Manchester Airport Group, said: 'This data shows the influence of our younger passengers. Generation Z are creating their airport experiences strongly influenced by AI and social media. These travellers both want to follow trends and set them.' Across the three airports, 61,500 more cups of matcha were sold this year than in 2024, with Stansted alone recording 70,000 sales.
Despite the shift, pre-flight pint sales have risen in line with passenger growth overall. However, younger travellers are less likely to fill airport pubs, instead favouring city breaks over boozy 18-30 holidays. Popular destinations for under-25s include Barcelona, Amsterdam, Dublin and New York, while 'destination dupes' like Albania, Bulgaria and Romania have seen flight numbers double among this age group.
