Comment: Strong summer sales could be a silver lining of unpredictable weather

For those who enjoy getting in the garden following the final frost or enjoying a springtime day out in the sunshine, the UK weather over Easter was typically unhelpful to planning.

While there were some bright moments, the often-torrential April showers and the noticeably chilly evenings will have left many wondering if it was still a bit early to break out the barbecue.

The unsettled weather and outlook for the weeks ahead may be frustrating for many, but for those in the outbound industry, it will not have been entirely unwelcome.

There was some concern that the storming start to peaks might be offset by a lull later in the year, but the grey skies and easterly winds may yet encourage undecided customers to revisit their summer plans.

After a largely smooth Easter getaway for those who escaped the early Dover delays, the envy factor will also play a part as people chat to those who opted for an early overseas break.

One of the key messages in the coming weeks will be the likely lack of cheap late deals, with easyJet the latest to report summer capacity filling up. And with prices holding as a result, there should be an opportunity to maintain margins and boost bottom lines.

One group who won’t be bemoaning the cool forecast for this weekend will be those running the London Marathon. As always I am in awe of their athletic and fundraising commitment, and wish all those travel industry runners – including Travel Weekly’s Maisie Meehan and Jade Bayley – the very best of luck.