Extension of peak holiday season into autumn expected

More UK travellers are looking at holidays in September, October and November than in 2019, with delayed demand lengthening the summer peak ?season, new research reveals.

More than a third (39%) ?of people polled by Skyscanner said they were planning a trip of more than 14 days in length so they can enjoy an extended ?holiday.

And 32% said that they were planning around safety, with the destination that seemed the safest being their top?choice.

Key trends for UK travellers include:

• Confidence and optimism returning to plan trips further ahead
• A prioritisation of value over price
• ‘Second’ city destinations and islands increasing in popularity

They are also spending less,?with the average fare purchased coming in at ?13% less than it did pre-pandemic,?a result of lower fares and competitive deals.

However, UK travellers ?are choosing to “upgrade” their travel, suggesting they are selecting fares with added extras such as flexibility or? a higher ?Covid ?safety ?score, according to the study.

When asked ?which ?factors would make them pay for a more expensive flight over a cheaper one, 29% said they would pay more for flexible ?travel ?and 26% said they wanted to upgrade their fare.

The average booking horizon for UK travellers looking for travel is 113 days, much closer to pre-pandemic ?norms ?than 2020, suggesting increasing? confidence ?to commit to future travel.

The most popular summer months for UK travellers are July and August, in line with school holidays and hotter? weather.

Skyscanner flights vice president Hugh Aitken said: ?“With international travel once again on the horizon, we have looked at how, when and where it is likely to return ?ahead of?the peak travel season.

“Our analysis reveals? ?travellers’?preferences ?are changing compared ?to pre-pandemic and? we have ?identified ?eight global trends that ?offer a snapshot of today’s travel landscape ?that? will influence the sector ?in 2021.

“That ?said, there are still many pieces of the puzzle needed to ?ful y ?restore traveller confidence and? truly ?unlock ?underlying demand.

“As we have seen in the? past, ?travellers are adept at adjusting to new? measures, ?however, ?we are entering a period where the ?importance of clear, straightforward and timely information? is vital, especially relating to? restrictions, ?quarantines and testing ?requirements.”