Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced that Christmas Eve will see the highest number of air travelers at UK airports since record-keeping began in 1972. More than 335,000 passengers are expected to take to the skies across the country on Wednesday, marking a 5% increase compared to the same day in 2024. Despite this surge in travelers, the CAA anticipates only minor delays and disruptions at airports.
Similarly, roadways in Britain are predicted to experience significant traffic volumes on Christmas Eve, potentially ranking among the busiest ever recorded, according to the RAC. The motoring organization highlights the period between 1pm and 7pm as the worst time for travel on Wednesday, with major routes expected to face delays as millions attempt to reach their destinations before Christmas Day. However, another motoring group suggests that the peak traffic times for the holiday season have already passed.
Manchester Airport is preparing for about 75,000 passengers on Christmas Eve, with 208 flights scheduled to depart the UK, though this will drop considerably on Christmas Day. Popular routes from Manchester include Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin. Heathrow Airport expects December to be its busiest ever, with 152,000 passengers forecasted to travel through its terminals on Christmas Day alone. EasyJet plans to operate 558 flights on Christmas Day, reflecting what it calls its “busiest festive season ever.” Meanwhile, Stansted Airport anticipates a quieter Christmas Day. Notably, the single busiest day for air travel during the festive period was Friday, 19 December.
On the roads, the RAC has flagged particular congestion on the northern and western sections of the M25 clockwise from mid-morning, as well as the northbound M5 from Gloucestershire to the West Midlands later in the day. Although rail travel remains a popular choice, earlier last trains and limited services, compounded by maintenance-related route closures, may drive more people to travel by car, increasing road congestion further. National Rail services do not operate on Christmas Day and offer very limited service on Boxing Day. Conversely, National Express coaches will serve 96 destinations even on Christmas Day.
Nick Mullender from the RAC’s mobile servicing and repair team remarked that the 2025 holiday period signals “the busiest getaway period since our records began” in 2013, attributing the surge to last-minute travel plans and reduced use of annual leave. In contrast, the AA reports that the heaviest travel day of the season was 19 December. On Christmas Eve, motorists should also prepare for the complete closure of the M27 in both directions between Junctions 9 and 11 from 8pm through to 4am on 4 January, due to major construction at Junction 10. This closure will notably affect routes between Southampton and Portsmouth.
Drivers are advised to check their vehicles carefully by inspecting tires, oil, and coolant levels ahead of their journeys and to anticipate delays on busy roads. As colder weather sets in, an increase in vehicle breakdowns is expected during a period where an estimated 4.2 million journeys will take place on the roads
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.