More Britons opt to holiday in UK this summer amid uncertainty over flights | Travel & leisure

Holiday companies are predicting a surge in summer holiday bookings in the UK following increased interest from Britons fearing flight cancellations linked to the Iran war.

Summer bookings are expected to rise in the coming weeks due to warnings of possible jet fuel shortages and resulting cancellations by airlines across Europe.

Raoul Fraser, managing director of Lovat, a holiday park operator with sites in south-west England, said traffic to its website had increased following reports of jet fuel warnings last week. “It’s definitely had a positive impact on us,” he said.

“Our holiday bookings have increased by over 30% this year. It’s a bit like Covid, when people can’t escape and now just want the certainty of a good holiday in the UK.”

Holiday resort company Butlin’s, which has sites in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness, said it was seeing “strong growth during the summer school holidays”.

But the company’s chief executive, Jon Hendry Pickup, said many families were still booking holidays closer to that time due to travel uncertainty and cost pressures.

“Normally, the proportion of people booking holidays in the last four weeks before arrival is around 15% to 20%. Now that proportion is roughly double,” he said.

Jeremy Hipkiss, managing director of holiday parks company Landal UK, said: “Guests are increasingly choosing destinations that are close to home and easy to reach by car or public transport, giving them greater control over their plans.”

Hipkiss said Landal’s parks in Cornwall, Scotland and Lincolnshire were “particularly popular”.

Peter Munk, managing director of Hull-based specialist caravan manufacturer Willerby, added that cost of living pressures were also keeping people from traveling overseas. Inflation, which remained stable at 3% in February, is expected to increase after the Iran war increased global energy costs.

“This has to do with the fact that inflation has started again,” he said. “Most people still want holidays, so they may have fewer days or they can’t get closer to home and have the holiday of their dreams.”

Travel spending fell 3.3 percent in March for the first time since pandemic travel restrictions were lifted in 2021, according to Barclays data. Spending on travel agencies fell by 4.6%, spending on airlines fell by 4.1% and spending on public transportation fell by 2.9%.

But Sinead O’Connor, travel analyst at research firm Mintel, said holiday appetite remained strong despite cost of living pressures.

He said the research showed 52 per cent of Britons surveyed planned to holiday in the UK, while 49 per cent planned to go abroad.

“We expect the value of the domestic holiday market to grow by around 7% this year to £14bn, outpacing growth in overseas travel,” he said.

Mintel said the international travel market is expected to grow 4.8% this year to reach £64.3bn.

Fears are growing that the oil crisis triggered by conflicts in the Middle East could lead to fuel shortages in Europe this summer.

This week, the head of the global energy agency warned that Europe has only six weeks’ supply of jet fuel before shortages emerge.

International Energy Agency President Fatih Birol said that flights may be canceled if oil supply is not restored in the coming weeks.

On Friday, International Air Transport Association chief executive Willie Walsh said flights in Europe could be canceled due to a lack of jet fuel from the end of May.

“In addition to doing everything possible to secure alternative supply lines, it is important that authorities have well-communicated and well-coordinated plans in case rationing is required, including easing of slots,” he added.

This month Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary warned that the UK would be the country most exposed to jet fuel shortages due to its dependence on Kuwait for around 25% of its supplies.

Airlines around the world have already had to cancel some flights.

Jet fuel averaged $197.83 per barrel last week, according to the International Airport Transportation Association; This is more than double last year’s average.

Munk added that reports of delays at European border crossings triggered by the EU’s new entry-exit system (EES) were also putting people off booking overseas holidays this summer.

The airport industry has told the European Commission that the system, which requires people from the UK and other non-EU countries to submit their biometric data before entering the block, is causing delays of up to three hours for passengers.

Last week, more than 100 passengers missed an easyJet flight from Milan to Manchester due to delays triggered by EES checks.