Millions head off for Christmas on busiest day of festive getaway
Roads, rails and airports brace for peak travel as travelers plan ahead and authorities urge patience.
Millions of Britons were traveling on what forecasters described as the busiest day of the Christmas getaway, with road, rail and air networks already near capacity. Authorities estimated about 24.4 million car journeys would take place on Friday afternoon and roughly 460,000 air journeys during the December holiday period. Network Rail urged travelers to check journeys, reserve seats where possible and allow extra time.
Airports are bracing for a busy period. Heathrow Airport expects its busiest December and Christmas Day, with about 250,000 passengers a day. Manchester Airport expects Friday to be the busiest day of the period, with about 100,000 travelers. Edinburgh Airport estimates nearly 250,000 people will pass through from Friday to Christmas Eve, heading to destinations such as Tenerife and Paris. Gatwick is forecasting 741 scheduled flights on Friday, just shy of the late-December peak of 757 flights. The Civil Aviation Authority said flying on Christmas Day is becoming more popular and advised travelers to know their rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled. If a flight is cancelled or delayed under UK law, passengers can request a refund or rebooking, and airlines may be required to provide meals or accommodation in extended delays.
For road travel, the AA and RAC note congestion in the usual hotspots, amplified by the bumper number of vehicles. Authorities warned queues could form in the late afternoon as drivers head home for the weekend. The RAC forecast queues of more than 30 minutes in peak times along the M25 around London, the M4 corridor, and surrounding connectors. The AA noted congestion in the usual hotspots and said the bumper number of vehicles would amplify delays. Among the routes highlighted as busy were the M1 around Luton, the M60 around Manchester, the M42 near Birmingham, the M5/M6 interchange, the M6 between the Lymm and Croft interchanges, the M1 toward Mansfield, the M20 toward Folkestone, and the M27, which will be closed between Junction 9 and Junction 11 from Christmas Eve to January 4. Travelers should plan alternative routes and allow extra time.
Rail travel faces its own disruptions. Network Rail said improvement works over the Christmas period mean several routes will be closed or restricted, and National Rail trains do not run on Christmas Day, with only a small number operating on Boxing Day. The Rail Delivery Group urged customers to reserve seats where possible, bring only luggage that fits in designated storage areas, and allow extra time for journeys.
On the air-rail front, authorities urged travelers to check schedules frequently and stay informed via airline and rail operator updates. The Civil Aviation Authority reminded passengers to know their rights in case of delays or cancellations, including refunds or alternative travel arrangements where applicable and, in some cases, accommodation and meals during long delays. Travelers were advised to check in ahead of time and to consider carrying unwrapped gifts to speed security checks.
Overall, Friday was expected to be the busiest day of the festive season for both air and ground travel, underscoring the need for travelers to plan ahead, monitor real-time updates, and leave ample time for connections.