Forget dating apps, if you’re looking for love this Valentine’s Day, your new romance may be 35,000 feet in the sky.
Almost one in five people are open to the prospect of finding new romance or “meet-cutes” on-board their flight, according to a 2026 survey of more than 2000 Australians commissioned by Cathay Pacific.
That same percentage (18.1) said they have had a romantic or flirtatious encounter on a flight, or have at least hoped to – suggesting that for some the journey is part of the romance.
Men and younger people were more likely to be open to sky-high romantic potential.
Around one in five men (22 percent) said they have had, or hoped for, an inflight flirtation. This compares with around one in seven women (15 percent).
Younger people are more open to romantic inflight moments. More than a quarter of Gen Zs (27 percent), and one in four Millennials (24 percent) said they had or hoped for, a romantic or flirtatious inflight moment. This compares to one in 10 (nine percent) of people aged 62 and over.
Cathay Pacific Head of Marketing Oceania Genevieve Brock said Australians were increasingly using travel to prioritise relationship connections with a surprise flight, long-distance reunion or a romantic escape.
“There’s long been a sense of mystique around romance and air travel, as well as on-screen rom-coms where airports and aircraft are the backdrop for proclamations of love,” Ms Brock said in a statement.
The survey also found almost 42 percent of respondents had previously travelled for Valentine’s Day or would like to do so.
More than half of those surveyed said their ideal Valentine’s getaway would be spent travelling with their partner or spouse.
The trend is being driven by younger Australians. Around 30 percent of Gen Z have travelled for Valentine’s Day, with Millennials following closely at 27 percent. The ratio was markedly lower among Gen X (11 percent), and Baby Boomers (6 percent).
Relationship stage also plays a role. Those in a relationship were the most likely to have travelled for Valentine’s Day (28 percent), followed by those who are engaged (26 percent) or married (18 percent). Singles were far less likely to have done so (14 percent).
Paris was nominated as the world’s most romantic destination, as voted by just over a third of respondents.
Beach retreats were the most popular destinations (41 percent), followed by the mountains or nature escapes (30 percent). City escapes, and wine or food regions were also popular.
Most Australians believed travel strengthened relationships (67 percent), with this belief strongest among Millennials (73 percent) and women (68 percent, compared to 66 percent of men).
