Skyscanner introduces AI travel search and route planner
Skyscanner is testing two new tools which enable travellers to find destinations with simple conversational queries and create personalised road trip itineraries. The upgrades show how metasearch engines are gradually expanding beyond classic price comparison.
From an undefined idea to concrete flights
Instead of pre-selecting a destination and dates, users of the Explore with AI tool can describe the kind of trip they are looking for. A query such as „find me cheap flights to Japan in December“ is transformed into a set of recommendations tailored to budget, timing, and travel style.
The results link flight prices and durations to weather conditions and the character of the destination in one place. AI-generated comments have also been added, for example, about which month travel might be cheaper.
The tool is available in beta on English-speaking markets. In early testing, conducted on 14,000 users, 60 percent of respondents opened the flight options offered. This is an important signal for Skyscanner, as it shows that conversational search can quickly take a user from the inspiration phase to the purchase phase.
AI creates car travel itineraries
The second piece of news is the Road Trip Planner, currently available in beta on desktop computers. The traveller enters the pick-up location for their car, the dates, and their desired route type, such as the fastest, scenic, cultural, or adventurous drive.
The system then suggests an itinerary, attractions and stops, and links them with car rental offers. Skyscanner thus doesn't just sell access to transport, but attempts to shape the entire travel experience.
Metasearch engine wants to remain the starting point for journeys
The company simultaneously expanded its DROPS price drop alerts, enriched Flight Tracker with gate, terminal, and baggage claim information, and rebranded its accommodation platform to Stays. The accommodation offering has increased from 3.5 million to over five million properties.
These new tools are a continuation of the direction that Skyscanner announced in February by launching a flight search app within ChatGPT. For travel agencies, carriers and technology providers, the message is clear: the visibility of offerings will increasingly depend on how accessible, structured, and understandable their content is to AI systems that generate recommendations before the user even reaches the booking page.
