Almost four million people will be escaping the UK over the Christmas and new year period, according to Abta estimates.
The peak travel days are predicted to be December 20, 21 and 23.
Millions of people will be leaving the country through the major airports, which include Heathrow where 1.7 million are estimated to be leaving, Stansted 360,000, Gatwick 700,000 and Luton 175,000 and 360,000 w from Manchester.
Glasgow and Edinburgh airports will handle 100,000 departing passengers in addition t large numbers through other regional airports.
Hundreds of thousands will also travel across the English Channel by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel with 210,000 travelling on Eurostar with Paris being the favourite destination.
The top winter sun destinations are the Canary Islands, Tunisia, Morocco and the Cape Verde islands and Dubai, Mexico, Cuba and Kenya for those flying long haul.
Winter sports lovers are benefiting from excellent snow levels on the continent with Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy the most popular destinations.
Popular for New Year’s Eve breaks are Paris, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Rome, and Dublin.
The UK coastal resorts of Llandudno, Torquay and Eastbourne are proving popular together with city breaks to London and York.
Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Christmas and new year are traditionally amongst the busiest times of the year and this year millions of Britons are heading off overseas for guaranteed snow or some much needed winter sun.
“Many will also be jetting off to visit friends and family or heading for a hotel break in the UK.
“As the roads will be busy, Abta recommends that holidaymakers should leave plenty of time to get to the airport and check for engineering work before heading off if using public transport.”