Travel column with Katie Butler of Total Travel: Queues, checks and late booking patterns
It certainly feels like the travel industry is being kept firmly on its toes at the moment, with a mix of developments creating very different experiences depending on where and when you travel.
One of the biggest talking points continues to be the introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), and early reports suggest a far from consistent picture across Europe.
Feedback has been mixed, in some destinations such as Malta and Porto where Leanne and Kath have recently visited, they both reported smooth arrivals and departures with no significant queues or delays. However, this has not been the case everywhere.
The Canary Islands in particular have seen mounting concerns, with reports of long waits and congestion at passport control, especially during busy periods. This has now become a political issue locally. The Partido Popular in the Canary Islands has announced plans to call on the Spanish Government to suspend the system at airports across the region.
Their argument centres on the disruption caused since the system’s introduction, with claims that insufficient preparation has led to overcrowding at border control points and frustration. There are also concerns about the wider impact on tourism. Images of lengthy queues circulating online risk damaging the islands’ reputation as an easy and welcoming destination, particularly among British tourists, who remain the largest visitor group.
In contrast, Greece has taken a different approach, announcing that British passport holders are temporarily exempt from biometric checks under the new system. This decision has been widely welcomed within our industry, as it is expected to significantly improve the airport experience for UK holidaymakers heading to Greek destinations this summer. There is already anticipation that this could lead to increased demand, as we look for smoother and more predictable journeys.
Air travel in general has also been under scrutiny, with newly published data highlighting ongoing delays at UK airports. Manchester Airport has once again recorded the longest average delays in the country, despite a slight improvement on last year’s figures. On average, flights were delayed by around 19 and a half minutes, which in all honesty I do not think is too bad. At Leeds Bradford just over 15 minutes.
It is worth noting that the overall picture has improved, with average delays across UK airports falling compared to the previous year. Many of the causes are outside the control of individual airports, including air traffic control issues across Europe, poor weather, and ongoing airspace restrictions linked to global conflicts.
Late bookings are once again dominating, with a significant amount of our customers choosing to secure their holidays close to departure. Last week new booking figures showed that holidays departing in late May were the most popular, followed by June and July. In fact, late bookings accounted for more than a third of all our brand-new bookings. Top selling destinations were cruises from Southampton (Due to P&O Summer 2028 season now on sale), Majorca and Greece.