Skyscanner has launched a set of beta AI tools and updated product features aimed at simplifying how travellers plan and book trips, the company announced.
The headline addition is Explore with AI, available on Skyscanner’s website and currently limited to English-speaking markets. Rather than entering fixed dates and destinations, users can describe what they want in plain language, for example “cheap flights to Japan in December,” and receive personalised recommendations.
The tool surfaces flight pricing, weather, duration and what Skyscanner calls “destination vibes,” alongside AI-generated prompts such as “September is typically 24 per cent cheaper than December.” Early testing showed 60 per cent of users clicked through to view flight options generated by Explore with AI searches.
The second new beta tool is a Road Trip Planner, which generates personalised driving itineraries based on pick-up location, travel dates and a preferred journey style. Users can select from categories including Scenic Route, Fastest Route, Cultural Exploration, Adventure Trip or Relaxing Getaway, with the AI then recommending stops, attractions and suitable car hire options.
“For more than 20 years, innovation has been at the heart of Skyscanner’s mission to be the world’s leading travel ally. At a time when travellers are navigating an increasingly complex travel landscape, we’re focused on building tools that help them plan and book with confidence. We’re experimenting with how AI can make every stage of the journey simpler and more intuitive, from discovering new destinations to road trip planning. We’re also continuing to test and evolve how we present flight information, including live flight tracking and trialling mapping price insights. By combining our deep travel expertise with the latest technology, our goal is to support travellers in making confident decisions and creating trips that are right for them, transforming travel planning into a seamless part of the adventure,” Bryan Batista, CEO of Skyscanner said in a statement.
Beyond the new AI features, Skyscanner has expanded its existing products. Its DROPS deals feature, which surfaces flights that have fallen by 20 per cent or more in the last seven days, now shows up to 822 per cent more deals per day after scanning 100 billion prices.
A new Flight Tracker provides real-time departure and arrival status, gate, terminal and baggage belt information. The platform’s accommodation section, rebranded as Stays, now lists more than five million properties, up from 3.5 million, ranging from hostels and campsites to floating stays and farm getaways.
