How popular isBritish Airways?
In September 2026, people searched for British Airways by name about 1.8 million times in the United Kingdom, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 22.3% of all United Kingdom airline searches, placing British Airways second out of seven airlines. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airlines, British Airways appeared in two of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the seven.
British Airways is the second most searched of 7 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.
easyJetShare of searches 27.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
British AirwaysShare of searches 22.3%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
RyanairShare of searches 22.3%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Jet2Share of searches 13.7%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Virgin AtlanticShare of searches 5.5%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top airlines in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, British Airways was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. British Airways is the sixth most recommended of the seven.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Ryanair1st
- easyJet2nd
- Jet23rd
Emirates4th- Virgin Atlantic5th
- British Airways6th
Wizz Air7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- easyJet4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Ryanair4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Jet23 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- British Airways2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Virgin Atlantic2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Emirates2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Wizz Air1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about airlines
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which airline should I fly with from the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best airlines in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best low cost airline for flights from the UK to Europe?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“flights”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cheap flights”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 22, 2026.
Which airlines compete with British Airways?
Share of searches by month for easyJet, British Airways, Ryanair, Jet2, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Wizz Air. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | easyJet | British Airways | Ryanair | Jet2 | Virgin Atlantic | Emirates | Wizz Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.2% | 21.4% | 26.2% | 10.2% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 5.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 24% | 24% | 24% | 11.5% | 4.8% | 5.9% | 5.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 25.9% | 25.9% | 21.2% | 10.1% | 5.2% | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Jan 2026 | 28% | 22.9% | 22.9% | 11.4% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 4.6% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.2% | 19.5% | 23.9% | 12% | 4.8% | 5.9% | 4.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 25.9% | 21.2% | 25.9% | 10.6% | 4.3% | 7.8% | 4.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.4% | 19.6% | 24% | 13.4% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% |
| May 2026 | 29.2% | 19.5% | 23.8% | 13.8% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 5.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 25.5% | 20.8% | 25.5% | 14.8% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 5.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 28.8% | 19.2% | 23.5% | 16% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Aug 2026 | 29.8% | 19.9% | 19.9% | 16.6% | 4.9% | 4% | 4.9% |
| Sep 2026 | 27.3% | 22.3% | 22.3% | 13.7% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 4.5% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 27.3% | 2.2M | -18.2% | -2.5 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 22.3% | 1.8M | 0% | +2.4 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 22.3% | 1.8M | 0% | +2.4 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 13.7% | 1.1M | -26.1% | -2.9 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 5.5% | 450K | 0% | +0.6 points | |
| 6, moved from 7th to 6th | 4.5% | 368K | 0% | +0.5 pointsmoved from 7th to 6th | |
| 7, moved from 6th to 7th | 4.5% | 368K | -18.2% | -0.4 pointsmoved from 6th to 7th |
1.
easyJet27.3%
Held 1st. 2.2M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -2.5 points.
22.3%
Held 2nd. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.4 points.
3.
Ryanair22.3%
Held 3rd. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.4 points.
4.
Jet213.7%
Held 4th. 1.1M estimated branded searches, -26.1% vs prior month. Share -2.9 points.
5.5%
Held 5th. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.
6.
Emirates4.5%
Moved from 7th to 6th. 368K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.5 points.
7.
Wizz Air4.5%
Moved from 6th to 7th. 368K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
Compare popularity between British Airways and its closest rivals
Every comparison with British Airways
6 comparisons
How has branded search demand for British Airways changed in the United Kingdom over the last 12 months?
4 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for British Airways in the United Kingdom held steady at 1.8M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, British Airways’ share of searches among airlines in the United Kingdom increased from 21.4% to 22.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, British Airways’ share of searches among airlines in the United Kingdom peaked at 25.9% in December 2025 and was lowest at 19.2% in July 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, British Airways rose from 3rd to 2nd among airlines in the United Kingdom.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom airlines in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, British Airways gained share of searches among airlines in the United Kingdom, from 19.9% to 22.3%.
In September 2026, Ryanair gained share of searches among airlines in the United Kingdom, from 19.9% to 22.3%.
In September 2026, Virgin Atlantic gained share of searches among airlines in the United Kingdom, from 4.9% to 5.5%.
In September 2026, Jet2 lost share of searches among airlines in the United Kingdom, from 16.6% to 13.7%.
In September 2026, easyJet lost share of searches among airlines in the United Kingdom, from 29.8% to 27.3%.
In September 2026, Emirates rose from 7th to 6th among airlines in the United Kingdom.
How are British Airways’ branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using British Airways’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- british airways
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