Two million to leave country in Easter getaway, predicts ABTA

ABTA is estimating that 2 million British holidaymakers are set to leave the country over the Easter weekend.

The trade association says that Spain is the outright favourite country for the weekend escape, with the Canary Islands and the island of  Tenerife in particular being the most popular. This is followed by the Balearic islands, mainland Southern Spain, Egypt and Morocco. Further afield families are flocking to Florida with most holidays and flights sold out, is said.

 

 

As Easter falls so early, the ski season is still in full swing with Brits escaping to France, Austria and Canada. 

 

 

Airports are reporting good numbers with 450,000 people to leave from Heathrow, around 260,000 from Gatwick, 170,000 from Stansted and 60,000 from Luton.  In Scotland over 160,000 will be leaving via the airports. Regional airports and ferry terminals it claims will also be extremely busy over the weekend.

 

 

But not everybody is escaping from the country as ABTA says many people will also be making the most of domestic trips.

 

 

Justin Fleming ABTA president said: “The early Easter has given our customers the extra option of heading to the slopes as well as topping up their tans, and the extended peak period has also seen a flattening out of prices, which has increased the number of holiday bargains for this time of year.”