Cirium reveals festive flight trends
December 22, 2024
UK airports are set for a busy festive season, with over 33,000 departures scheduled between 20 December and 2 January, offering more than 6.1 million seats.
This represents a 5% increase in capacity compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, thanks to airlines deploying larger aircraft to meet growing demand.
Departures are also up by 5% year-on-year compared to the 2023 festive season, with a 6% rise in available seats, reflecting the sustained recovery and growth of the aviation industry.
Busiest Day: Friday 20 December
Friday 20 December was projected to be the busiest day for UK airports during the holiday period, with 2,807 flights scheduled, providing over 500,000 seats for departing passengers.
Heathrow Airport leads the pack with the highest number of scheduled departures during the period, totalling 8,741 flights. Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, and Edinburgh round out the top five busiest airports.
Popular Destinations
Amsterdam, Dublin, Geneva, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Tenerife-South emerge as the most popular international destinations for UK travellers this festive season, highlighting a mix of city breaks and winter sun escapes.
Key Dates for Major Airports
Some airports are expected to hit their peak on specific dates:
- Heathrow: 20 December
- Gatwick: 22 December
- Manchester: 22 December
- Stansted: 22 December
- Birmingham: 22 December
- Luton: 20 December
- Edinburgh: 27 December
- Newcastle: 20 December
- Bristol: 22 December
Christmas Day Travel on the Rise
Travel on Christmas Day itself is also growing in popularity. UK airports are set to handle 805 departures on 25 December, marking a 20% increase from pre-pandemic 2019 and an impressive 47% rise compared to 2014. Travelling on Christmas Day is becoming a preferred option for those seeking to avoid the holiday rush.
