More than 2m to travel abroad over Bank Holiday
An estimated 2.1 million people will go abroad this bank holiday weekend which coincides with school half-term in many areas.
ABTA believes thousands of families will be escaping the poor UK weather.
President Justin Fleming said: “The last few weeks terrible weather has given an even greater incentive to people to head abroad this weekend where
they are guaranteed good weather and the first taste of a proper summer.”
Mainland Spain, the Canary and Balearic Islands and Portugal are the best
selling short-haul destinations, according to ABTA.
Egypt and other North African countries have continued last year’s record sales. The US is booming once more as the dollar falls on the currency markets with New York and Florida leading the way.
Barcelona, Paris, Dublin and Amsterdam top the short breaks list with eastern European destinations such as Prague, Talinn and Kracow gaining popularity
ABTA estimates that more than 1.5 million will fly from UK airports with 410,000 from Heathrow, 250,000 from Gatwick, 110,000 from Stansted, 62,000 from
Birmingham, 160,000 from Manchester, 35,000 from Nottingham East Midlands,
65,000 from Luton, 60,000 from Glasgow, 50,000 from Edinburgh and 20,000
from Aberdeen.
A further 600,000 will be going over and under the Channel to France, Holland, Belgium and Spain including around 65,000 on Eurostar.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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