Travel experts predict busiest festive season for UK departures, with Sunday expected to be the peak day for travel.
This festive season, an estimated four million Britons are preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year abroad, according to the travel industry body, Abta. The busiest day for departures is forecast to be this Sunday, with Christmas Day expected to be the quietest.
Abta’s analysis reveals that winter sun destinations such as the Canary Islands, southern Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Dubai remain the top choices for many. Meanwhile, skiers are flocking to resorts in France, Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia, while popular city breaks include Amsterdam, Dublin, Paris, and Prague.
Heathrow Airport anticipates a record number of passengers this December, surpassing last year’s high of 6.7 million. Other major airports, including Manchester, Stansted, Luton, Birmingham, and Bristol, are also expecting substantial numbers of travellers over the holiday period.
Mark Tanzer, CEO of Abta, encouraged holidaymakers to plan ahead for their travels, as public transport and roads are expected to be extremely busy. He said, “Millions are heading overseas to spend quality time with loved ones, whether they’re after some winter sun or guaranteed snow.”
Tanzer stressed the importance of allowing extra time to reach departure points, as congestion is expected on both public transport and the roads. Friday will likely be the busiest day on the roads for festive travel, with the AA estimating 23.7 million journeys to be made.
The AA also identified several congestion hotspots, including the M4/M5 interchange near Bristol and the M25 around Heathrow. Rail engineering works are expected to exacerbate the situation, as several train lines will be closed, affecting key stations.
In terms of air travel, EasyJet is forecasting its busiest-ever Christmas period, with up to 4.1 million passengers expected to board flights from airports across Europe.
Additionally, disruption at the Port of Holyhead in North Wales, caused by storm damage, will force travellers to find alternative routes to and from Ireland until mid-January.
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The first day’s journey was through the pink fields
The first day’s journey was through the pink fields
The first day’s journey was through the pink fields