Today, Friday 23 August, is set to be the busiest day for departures from UK airports so far this year, with a record-breaking 3,243 flights scheduled to take off, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The spike in travel comes as millions of Britons prepare to take advantage of the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Across the entire weekend, a total of 12,302 flights are scheduled to depart from UK airports, offering more than 2.2 million seats to travelers. This represents an almost 4% increase in departures compared to the same period last year, underscoring the ongoing recovery of the travel industry. Scheduled departures for the weekend, spanning from Friday 23 August to Monday 26 August, are expected to reach 94% of 2019 levels, reflecting a strong return to pre-pandemic travel habits.
Heathrow Airport is set to handle the largest number of departures this weekend, followed closely by Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, and Edinburgh. These major hubs will see a significant uptick in passenger traffic as travelers head to popular international destinations.
Among the top choices for UK holidaymakers are Dublin, Amsterdam, and several Spanish hotspots, including Mallorca, Alicante, and Malaga. These destinations are expected to receive the highest number of flights from the UK over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Leading the charge in airline activity is EasyJet, which is projected to operate the most flights during this period. British Airways, Ryanair, Jet2, and TUI round out the top five airlines, each contributing significantly to the weekend’s flight schedule.
With the combination of favorable weather and the last long weekend before the end of summer, UK airports are gearing up for an exceptionally busy period. Travelers are advised to arrive early and plan ahead to ensure smooth departures during what is set to be a record-breaking Bank Holiday weekend.
