Summary
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) reported that Christmas Eve will be the busiest ever for air travel in the UK, with over 335,000 people flying. Roads and railways are also expected to be extremely busy with major travel delays anticipated.
Key Facts
- Over 335,000 people are expected to fly through UK airports on Christmas Eve, making it the busiest on record.
- This is a 5% increase compared to Christmas Eve in 2024.
- Major roads will be heavily congested, especially from 1pm to 7pm, with significant delays expected.
- Rail services will have reduced schedules during the Christmas period, with no trains running on Christmas Day and limited services on Boxing Day.
- Manchester Airport expects 75,000 passengers on Christmas Eve, with popular destinations including Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin.
- Heathrow expects its busiest December ever, with 152,000 passengers anticipated on Christmas Day.
- The M27 will have a temporary closure affecting travel between Southampton and Portsmouth starting on Christmas Eve night.
- National Express coaches will run on Christmas Day, serving 96 destinations.
