Holiday companies are predicting a surge in bookings for UK summer breaks as Britons, fearful of flight cancellations linked to the Iran war, increasingly opt for domestic holidays. Summer bookings are expected to rise amid warnings of possible jet fuel shortages and resulting cancellations by airlines across Europe.
Raoul Fraser, chief executive of Lovat, a holiday park operator in south-west England, said website traffic increased after reports of jet fuel warnings last week. “Our holidays bookings are up over 30% this year. It is a little bit like Covid, when people couldn’t get away and now they just want the certainty of a nice holiday in the UK,” he said. Butlin’s, with sites at Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, reported “strong growth for the summer school holidays”, though chief executive Jon Hendry Pickup noted many families are booking closer to the time due to travel uncertainty and cost pressures.
Jeremy Hipkiss, managing director of Landal UK, said guests are choosing destinations closer to home that are easy to reach by car or public transport, giving them greater control. Landal’s parks in Cornwall, Scotland and Lincolnshire are “particularly popular”. Peter Munk, chief executive of caravan manufacturer Willerby, added that cost of living pressures are also putting people off overseas travel, with inflation expected to increase after the Iran war drove up global energy costs.
Travel spending fell in March for the first time since pandemic restrictions lifted, dropping by 3.3%, according to Barclays data. However, Mintel travel analyst Sinead O’Connor said appetite for holidays remains strong, with 52% of Britons surveyed planning to holiday in the UK. The domestic holiday market is expected to grow by about 7% this year to nearly £14bn, outpacing overseas travel growth of 4.8% to £64.3bn.
Fears are rising that the oil crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict could lead to jet fuel shortages in Europe this summer. Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, warned Europe has only six weeks’ worth of jet fuel supplies. Willie Walsh of the International Air Transport Association said flights could be cancelled from the end of May. Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary warned Britain is most exposed as it relies on Kuwait for about 25% of its supply. Jet fuel averaged $197.83 a barrel last week, more than double last year's average.
