1.8 Million head abroad over bank holiday weekend
ABTA estimates that 1.8 million Brits will leave the country during the Bank Holiday weekend (27-30 August 2010)
Friday will be the busiest day, but over the whole weekend the following numbers of people will be leaving the country. In the South East over 420,000 will be leaving from Heathrow, 250,000 from Gatwick,136,000 from Stansted and 65,000 from Luton.
Meanwhile hundreds of thousands will leave through regional airports including 145,000 from Manchester, 25,000 from Leeds Bradford, 12,000 from Southampton, 36,000 from Newcastle and 65,000 from Birmingham.
In Scotland 116,000 will be flying out from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
In addition 60,000 will use the Eurostar for trips to the continent 500,000 people will be heading abroad by ferry or Eurotunnel.
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Beach destinations are at the top of the priority list for this time of year with the Mediterranean resorts in the Balearic Islands, mainland Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus and the Greek islands the top holiday favourites. The States is also proving to be popular with Orlando and New York the top destinations, while for European cities, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice and Dublin lead the way.
UK beach resorts on the South Coast, Devon and Cornwall also promise to be busy despite the traditional British Bank holiday weather.
John McEwan, ABTA’s Chairman said: “This weekend is the last great getaway of the summer and I am delighted to see that so many customers are taking the opportunity to head off on holiday overseas as well as the large number who will be sampling the delights of the sea and countryside as well as our beautiful cities here at home”