More than two million Britons are expected to travel abroad this weekend, according to estimates from ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents. It is the first weekend of the summer when all schools in the UK are on holiday, boosting the summer holiday rush.
Spain remains the top choice for families, with areas such as the Costa Brava, Costa del Sol, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands seeing the most demand. ABTA member travel agents are also seeing strong interest in other popular Mediterranean destinations, including Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Italy and Malta, as well as more exotic destinations such as Morocco and Cape Verde.
There is also a growing preference for city breaks, with cities such as Amsterdam, Dubai, Dublin, Budapest, Barcelona and Lisbon all popular choices.
Airports in the south-east of the UK are expected to see particularly high passenger traffic. According to ABTA, hundreds of thousands of travellers are set to depart from Heathrow and Gatwick, while around 210,000 passengers are expected from Stansted and another 120,000 from Luton.
Manchester Airport is expected to handle around 220,000 passengers, while Birmingham is expected to handle more than 100,000. There will also be significant increases in traffic at Scottish airports, regional airports, ports and the Channel Tunnel, the association said.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said:
“This weekend is set to be one of the busiest of the year, with many more UK families heading off for their summer holidays – whether it’s a relaxing beach holiday or a cultural experience in a European city. For the most comfortable travel experience, we advise travellers to arrive at their departure point in good time and, if using public transport, to check in advance for any roadworks.”
