ABTA estimates that 1.8 million British holidaymakers are set to leave the country this bank holiday weekend [22-25 May], which also coincides with school half term.  Spain remains firmly on the top spot with the Canary and Balearic islands leading the way. Turkey and Egypt have seen big increases benefiting from being outside of the eurozone.

For long haul travellers Florida will be very busy as families take advantage of the lower prices in May for a week’s break.

City breaks are perfect for a long weekend and the top 5 city destinations are Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rome and New York.

High numbers will be flying out of the South East with 385,000 from Heathrow, 220,000 Gatwick, 120,000 from Stanstead and 60,000 from Luton.

From the North and the Midlands 130,000 will leave from Manchester airport and 65,000 from Birmingham. It will be a busy weekend for all the Scottish airports, with tens of thousands due to fly away including, 45,000 from Glasgow, and 55,000 from Edinburgh. 

Other regional airports and ferry terminals will also be very busy and 80,000 will be heading under the channel on Eurostar.

Justin Fleming ABTA President said: “In spite of the recession passenger numbers this bank holiday weekend are very healthy showing that the British love affair with foreign travel is as strong as ever.”