Air traffic controllers expect to handle more than 8,800 flights on Friday, the busiest day on record for UK airspace, as the summer school holidays begin. The travel association Abta says a record 2.4 million British holidaymakers are heading overseas this weekend, while millions more take to the roads.
The south-east’s major airports are braced for a busy weekend, with more than 500,000 passengers departing from Heathrow, 335,000 from Gatwick, 136,000 from Stansted and 85,000 from Luton. However, an earthquake of up to magnitude 6.7 south of Bodrum in Turkey and east of the Greek island of Kos may disrupt travel plans for some.
National Air Traffic Control (Nats) expects to manage a record 770,000 flights over the summer, 40,000 more than last year. Its director, Jamie Hutchison, warned that the ageing design of UK airspace means the system is close to its limits. A Department for Transport forecast says delays could be 50 times worse by 2030 if no changes are made, prompting a government consultation on new flight routes and modern aircraft capabilities.
On the roads, about nine million motorists are expected to travel for the start of the school holidays, with 3.4 million journeys on Saturday and 2.8 million on Sunday. The RAC says Friday will also be busy, with up to 2.5 million cars trying to avoid the rush. Traffic congestion is customary at this time of year, with 37 million trips typically made in the first two weeks.
The weak pound is boosting staycations, with travel search engine Sojern reporting a 25% year-on-year rise in UK holiday searches and bookings. Airbnb research suggests four in five Britons are choosing to holiday at home, with Devon and Cornwall the most popular destinations. Both counties have seen Airbnb guest numbers double in the past year, and driving there is expected to bring the worst traffic delays.
