Travel with Katie Butler: Half-term already and big changes in the skies
The first of the school holidays for 2026 are already upon us and, somehow, we are firmly into mid-February.
It has been a fantastic start to the year for travel, with strong momentum continuing week by week and plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the months ahead.
However, there has also been some disappointing news locally. It is now official that Aer Lingus will cease its transatlantic operations from Manchester Airport this year, a move that will be felt by many across the North of England.
The airline has confirmed that its Manchester to New York service will stop from February 23, with all remaining transatlantic operations from Manchester ending on March 31, 2026.
In a statement, an Aer Lingus spokesperson confirmed that the decision followed a consultation held late last year regarding the future of the airline’s Manchester base. The withdrawal could affect around 200 employees and has already prompted industrial action concerns from the Unite union.
Transatlantic flights for departures after March 31 were removed from sale in early January, which led to disappointment among both customers and travel agents.
Aer Lingus has stressed that there will be no impact on flights between Manchester and Ireland, including services operated by Aer Lingus Regional.
Customers affected by the cancellation of long-haul flights are being contacted directly by ourselves and offered alternative travel arrangements or refund options.
It really is a shame, as all three of the transatlantic routes from Manchester proved extremely popular with our customers. That said, we have been able to re-protect the majority of affected travellers via Dublin, which is actually an excellent option for travelling to the United States.
Clearing US customs in Dublin means that when you land in the States, you simply collect your luggage and head straight out to begin your holiday, avoiding lengthy queues on arrival.
On a more positive note, last week we were delighted to be joined by Elysia from Jet2holidays trade support, who acted as our “co-pilot for the day”. This was part of Jet2holidays’ Co-Pilot for a Day initiative, which is running through to early 2026 and is designed to give independent travel agents hands-on support during peak booking periods, particularly on “payday Fridays”.
The initiative forms part of Jet2holidays’ wider peaks campaign and offers practical help such as marketing materials, expert advice and booking assistance. It is a great example of how suppliers continue to invest in independent agents and recognise the value of local, personalised service.
As always, I end with a look at booking trends from the past week. May 2026 remained the top-selling month, accounting for 12 per cent of bookings. June followed closely with a ten per cent share, while July took third place with nine per cent. Late bookings also remained strong, making up 21 per cent of total sales.
In terms of destinations, Tenerife topped the list once again based on passenger numbers. Cruises departing from Southampton came in second place, with Turkey taking the third spot. It is encouraging to see such a broad mix of sun, cruise and family-friendly options proving popular as we head further into the year.
With half-term already here and summer on the horizon, it is clear that travel remains firmly on people’s minds – and despite a few changes along the way, the appetite to get away is as strong as ever.