- One in five UK flights during Christmas week (20 – 26 December) is domestic
- 97% of London flights head abroad, with Spain, India and Türkiye topping the list
- Brits save long-haul travel plans until after Christmas, with Thailand, Australia and Vietnam rising significantly in popularity between 27 December – 4 January
- Londoners’ top Christmas rail escape is Edinburgh, with Manchester and Liverpool close behind
- Gatwick and Stansted both feature among Londoners’ top-booked rail destinations
[Image credit: Cristina Glebova]
Preparations for Christmas are well underway, and while some may take the festive period as an opportunity to unwind at home – many Brits will be hitting the roads and the skies to see family and friends living abroad or elsewhere in the UK, or simply seeking warmth in sunnier climes.
Trip.com, a leading global travel service provider, has analysed travel behaviour of its UK-based users over the Christmas (20 – 26 December) and New Year (27 December – 4 January) periods to reveal where Brits are heading around the turn of the year. The data reveals a clear shift in travel patterns, with Brits staying close to home for Christmas, before switching dramatically to long-haul winter-sun destinations immediately after.
“What’s most interesting about what we’ve uncovered is that over 20% of flights departing the UK in the days leading up to Christmas until Boxing Day are domestic,” said James Spalding, Regional Director for Northern Europe, Flights, at Trip.com Group. “In addition, appetite for long-haul travel drastically increases from 27 December – especially to destinations like Thailand, Australia and Vietnam where booking volume has increased.”
Londoners are jetting off this Christmas, while 1 in 5 flights from the UK are domestic
Ranking based on booking volumes (outbound flights from London) Country
1 Spain
2 India
3 Türkiye
4 Thailand
5 Italy
6 Australia
7 China
8 Nigeria
9 France
10 Germany
Across the UK, 21% of flights during Christmas week are domestic, reflecting the importance of quick internal journeys for family reunions and the continued role of domestic air connectivity during the festive period.
However, Londoners’ behaviour tells a very different story.
97% of London-based travellers taking flights this Christmas are heading abroad. Topping the list are Spain, India and Türkiye – indicating a desire to escape the cold this Christmas and visit friends and relatives overseas.
Thailand, Australia and Nigeria are other long-haul destinations sitting within the top ten – all being key destinations where many Londoners may have family they want to spend Christmas with, and all enjoying sunnier weather at the same time.
Short-haul festive flings remain popular, though. While Spain tops the list as many head to the southern coasts for winter sun – Italy, France and Germany hold winter markets in many cities and towns.
Looking beyond London, UK-wide flight patterns also reveal a strong mix of domestic and long-haul movement. While many Brits head abroad, domestic flights still play a crucial role for quick reunions and regional connections.
Ranking based on booking volumes (UK domestic flights) UK city
1 London
2 Manchester
3 Edinburgh
4 Birmingham
5 Bristol
6 Belfast
7 Glasgow
8 Newcastle
9 Liverpool
10 Aberdeen
However, these patterns change sharply once Christmas passes.
Brits are saving their long-haul travel plans for after Christmas
From 27 December, UK travellers shift strongly toward long-haul destinations.
Ranking based on booking volumes (UK outbound flights) Destination
1 Thailand
2 Australia
3 India
4 Spain
5 Philippines
6 China
7 Türkiye
8 Malaysia
9 Vietnam
10 France
Destinations across Southeast Asia and Oceania see the biggest increases. Vietnam (+36%), Thailand (+33%), and Australia (+22%) record the strongest growth as Brits look for sunshine and extended New Year breaks.
Overall, Trip.com’s data shows a distinct split between Christmas and New Year travel behaviour, with domestic reunions giving way to long-haul adventures as soon as the festive week ends.
Rail dominates UK domestic travel this Christmas, though London airports are top destinations
When it comes to rail travel, 93% of UK-based Trip.com users opt for domestic trips and for Londoners the share rises to 95%. But, despite being closer to major international gateways, only 5% of London-departing rail journeys are internationally bound over the Christmas period.
Ranking based on booking volumes (outbound trains from London) UK city
1 Edinburgh
2 Manchester
3 Liverpool
4 Birmingham
5 Glasgow
6 Gatwick Airport
7 Newcastle
8 Leeds
9 York
10 Stansted Airport
Trip.com sees Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool topping London’s list. Edinburgh city enjoys markets along Princes Street Gardens, the Castle of Light festival, plus the return of the Torchlight Procession. And, if you’re lucky, snow-capped Georgian rooftops create the perfect backdrop for a wintry postcard.
A notable insight this year is that both Gatwick Airport and Stansted Airport appear within London’s top ten rail destinations, showing a clear trend of travellers using rail to position themselves for outbound flights during the busy festive period.
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About Trip.com
Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 24 languages across 39 countries and regions and supporting 35 local currencies. With an extensive hotel and flight network of over 1.5 million hotels and flights from more than 640 airlines, along with over 200,000 attractions and tour products, Trip.com covers 3,400 airports in 220 countries and regions. Trip.com’s world-class, 24/7 multilingual customer service helps millions of customers worldwide to “create the best travel experience.” Book your next trip at trip.com.
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