UK airspace faces busiest ever day as big summer getaway begins – The Guardian

UK air traffic controllers are expecting the busiest day on record for Uk airspace. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

UK air traffic controllers were expecting to handle more than 8,800 flights on Friday the busiest day on record for UK airspace while millions take to the roads as the summer school holidays begin for many pupils.

A record 2.4 million UK holidaymakers will be heading overseas, according to the travel association Abta.

Airports in the south-east are expecting a very busy weekend with more than 500,000 passengers expected to depart from Heathrow, 335,000 from Gatwick, 136,000 from Stansted and 85,000 from Luton.

However, an earthquake said to have been up to a magnitude of 6.7 south of the Turkish city of Bodrum and east of the Greek island of Kos may disrupt travel plans for some holidaymakers.

Air traffic controllers are expecting to manage a record 770,000 flights in UK airspace over the summer, 40,000 more than last year, the BBC reported.

The UKs National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) has warned its ability to deal with the surge is being stretched.

Its director, Jamie Hutchison, told the broadcaster: In the last few weeks we have already safely managed record-breaking daily traffic levels, but the ageing design of UK airspace means we will soon reach the limits of what can be managed without delays rising significantly.

Todays heavy aerial traffic could be a sign of things to come. A UK-wide forecast from the Department for Transport has warned that if airspace remains unchanged, by 2030 delays could be 50 times worse than they were in 2015.

A Government consultation could result in changes to permitted routes to allow more flights, Nats said, and the system could be updated to take advantage of the ability of modern jets to fly further and take steeper approaches to airports, to maximise the use of available space while minimising noise disruption and pollution on the ground.

But redesigning flight paths is a contentious issue as it can mean communities currently unaffected by aircraft noise are put under flight paths.

Fridays record day came as the Government launched its proposed aviation strategy for the years to 2050, in which ministers say they are minded to be supportive of airports that want to make better use of existing capacity.

Proposals included in the Governments aviation strategy include doorstep luggage collection services and town centre check-in desks for passengers flying from British airports.

On the ground, travellers will find their journeys similarly beset by traffic: as families head for the seaside as schools break up this weekend, experts are warning that roads could be even more packed than usual, with many choosing to holiday in the UK because of the impact of Brexit.

About 9 million motorists will take to the roads for the start of the school summer holiday. Some 3.4m journeys will be made on Saturday, according to the RAC. There will be 2.8m trips on Sunday, while those trying to beat the rush by leaving on Friday morning may have found just as much of a jam, with up to 2.5m cars expected to vie for space with commuters.

Traffic chaos is customary at the start of the school holidays with 37m trips regularly made in the first two weeks.

And confidence is high among the domestic tourism industry. According to Visit Britain more than half (55%) of accommodation providers and nearly three-quarters (73%) of visitor attractions in England expected their performance in 2017 to be better than 2016.

This could be attributed to a mix of factors, including the exchange rate, the convenience of holidaying at home and certainty of budgeting and costs, it said.

An analysis of UK travellers by the travel search engine Sojern found a 25% year-on-year increase in searches and bookings for holidays within the country, something it attributes to the unfavourable exchange rate. Sterling has plummeted by 13% against the dollar and 9% against the euro since last Junes referendum.

Research by home-sharing platform Airbnb found that four out of five Brits were choosing to holiday in the UK this year, with Devon and Cornwall the most sought-after staycation destinations. Both areas have seen Airbnb guests increase by 100% over the past year, with more than 136,000 guests arriving in Cornwall and 110,000 in Devon. Of these guests, 84% are travellers from the UK.

Unsurprisingly, those driving to Devon and Cornwall can expect the worst of the traffic, according to the RAC, with long tailbacks inevitable, particularly in the south-west on the M5, which is the main route to the coast.

For those deciding to go abroad, Spain remains the top destination for UK travellers, with the Balearic and Canary islands leading the way, while bookings to Portugal, Greece, Italy and France are also strong, according to Abta.

The Mediterranean still dominates the family market, but the associations members reported strong growth for Bulgaria and Croatia among those seeking summer sun.

Destinations popular with those travelling further afield include Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Mexico, with Florida keeping its spot as the number one long-haul family choice.

European cities such as Barcelona, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam are leading the way as city break destinations for families seeking culture and architecture.

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UK airspace faces busiest ever day as big summer getaway begins - The Guardian