Departures before May make up almost half of Thomas Cook Sunshine Saturday sales

Late bookings made up almost half of sales made by Thomas Cook on Sunshine Saturday.

The online company reported that 48% of customers booked for departures before May.

The Canary Islands was the most-booked destination of the day, followed by Spain and Egypt. 

Egypt recorded the strongest growth of the three, with bookings up 317% year on year, reinforcing continued popularity of winter sun holidays, according to the OTA. 

Long-haul saw a “significant boost”, with bookings to the US rising by 550% compared to last year. 

New York, Las Vegas and Florida proved the most popular destinations, “suggesting growing confidence among customers planning big-ticket trips further afield”. 

Thomas Cook reported a 60% rise in total bookings over the same Sunshine Saturday last year.

The increase in bookings came as the Civil Aviation Authority forecast that more than 4.5 million people will book holidays this month, around 200,000 more than during the same period last year.

Thomas Cook head of inventory and trading Jaime Thompson said: "Sunshine Saturday is always a key moment for holiday bookings, but this year’s growth shows just how eager people are to lock in some sunshine early in the year. 

“Whether it’s a last-minute winter escape or planning ahead for 2026 and beyond, customers are clearly prioritising holidays and looking for great value and flexibility.”