UK. This weekend is expected to be the busiest bank holiday on record for air travel, according to UK airports operator BAA. Nearly 1.8 million passengers are expected to travel through BAA’s seven UK airports between Friday 22 and Monday 25 August 2003.
Each year, around 40% of the UK population travels abroad by air, on around 40 million trips, yet just 30 years ago in 1973, this figure was under 10% of the population with 7 million trips abroad. The increase is largely as a result of increased leisure time and the affordability of travel. For example fares as low as £20 (US$32) for flights to Europe, have helped Stansted grow from 5 million passengers a year in 1998, to 17 million today.
In the same period, holiday packages have become more affordable. In 1973, an average two week holiday to Spain would cost, in today’s terms, £570 (US$929), according to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), representing 3% of the annual household income. Today, at an average of £454 (US$740), the same holiday costs just 1.6% of the average household income.
In terms of holiday destinations, Spain has remained the top choice for 30 years. London Gatwick airport’s typical leisure traveller has chosen Palma de Mallorca as favourite destination since 1973, and Alicante remains the second-most popular Spanish destination. However eight 1973 favourites – including the Channel Islands, Paris and Toronto – have dropped out of the top ten, as UK tourists now prefer Malaga, Faro and other long haul destinations, such as Dalaman in Turkey and Orlando in the US.
At Heathrow, BAA said the top destinations have not changed much, largely reflecting the dominance of business travel between London and New York, Paris and Amsterdam.
It is certain the appetite for air travel remains substantial in the UK. Yet BAA has faced opposition from environmentalist groups to the UK government’s latest plan to build one new runway at each of London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, a move that is up for discussion ahead of publication of the Aviation White Paper later this year.
BAA claims 80% of the public questioned in a MORI poll now believe air travel should be allowed to grow to match the rising demand, provided there is proper regard for the environment.
BAA chief executive Mike Clasper commented: “People love to fly. It costs less to holiday abroad today than it did 30 years ago and over 30 million more people jet off to the sun each year than in 1973. But runways are running out of space, especially in the South East. The government is looking at where new runways should go and we need urgent decisions on this, so that flying abroad can remain affordable and accessible for everyone.”
Note: Figures are based on ONS (Office of National Statistics) figures for average household income in 1973 of £19,526 and in 2003 of £28,652.
