AirHelp app hits one million users as travellers switch from airline channels to independent flight | News
AirHelp, the world’s leading air passenger rights platform, today announced that its independent flight tracking app has reached one million users in just 12 months – a milestone that reflects a fundamental shift in how travellers manage disruption.
As airlines continue to face challenges in real-time communication, passengers are increasingly seeking independent data to track flights, monitor disruptions and protect their schedules.
Over the past year, app users conducted more than five million searches for flight numbers, airline and airports – and nearly half (46%) were monitoring someone else’s journey, suggesting that live, independent flight data has become a way for people to track loved ones rather than wait on carrier updates.
AirHelp CEO, Tomasz Pawliszyn said: “Reaching one million users in a single year shows a clear demand for information parity. When a disruption happens, travellers want immediate visibility. They are using independent data to track flights in real time, protect their schedules, and claim compensation when applicable.”
In the UK, travellers are showing the highest vigilance on international routes to Dubai. Domestically, tracking is concentrated around Heathrow, Manchester and Gatwick – with the latter two ranking lowest in this year’s AirHelp Score for airport performance. Low-cost carriers Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2 are among the most closely monitored, alongside Emirates and British Airways.
Across Europe, Ryanair is the most closely monitored airline, while Madrid ranks as the most searched destination airport. Spain, Italy and France form the core of the app’s user base, with tracking concentrated on regional hubs including Rome, Barcelona and Paris, alongside international routes to Dubai.
In the United States, the London Heathrow corridor sees the heaviest international tracking activity, with American Airlines, United and Delta the most monitored carriers for transatlantic routes. Domestically, Chicago, Atlanta and JFK generate the highest search volumes.
The app’s growth has coincided with a major expansion in functionality. The ‘Where Is My Plane?’ feature allows passengers to track the specific aircraft assigned to their flight and follow its route prior to departure, giving earlier warning of potential delays.
A multi-mailbox framework now automatically scans historical travel data, flagging eligible past disruptions up to three years after the incident. With 21 million passengers estimated to have been eligible for compensation in 2025, this functionality is designed to close the gap between entitlement and action.
The app is available in eight languages: French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish and Portuguese, in addition to English.
Its user base now spans more than 200 countries, from Fiji to Laos to Kyrgyzstan, reflecting demand for accessible, independent flight information well beyond traditional aviation markets.
