British travellers increasingly book holidays weeks ahead, straining travel firms
UK holidaymakers are waiting until just weeks before departure to book trips, a shift that travel association ABTA says is complicating planning for operators.
According to the travel trade body ABTA, a growing number of UK consumers are delaying holiday reservations until only a few weeks before their flights, a habit influenced by global politics, climate-related events and broader economic concerns. This shift makes it harder for travel companies to manage inventory and pricing amid already higher operating costs, fuel price volatility and the rollout of Europe’s Entry/Exit System.
The outbound travel sector now adds £57 billion annually to the UK economy and supports roughly 865,000 jobs, marking a 9.6% increase in economic output since 2019. Nevertheless, the industry has been hit by Middle East conflicts, wildfires and a rising cost-of-living pressure, with 52% of respondents citing living costs as a reason to cut future holiday spending. ABTA is calling on the government to freeze Air Passenger Duty and scrap the child tax to help sustain the sector.
Why it matters
Later bookings pressure travel companies, risking job losses and higher prices for UK holidaymakers.
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