The number of flights scheduled to depart from UK airports in March is up by almost a third (31%) year on year, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The number is, however, still 15% down compared to March 2019. The consulting firm forecasts 71,600 departures this month, the equivalent of roughly 12.5 million seats.
Heathrow is expected to see its highest number of departures this month since January 2020, with more than 18,860 flights scheduled to depart from Britain’s busiest airport. On the other hand, London Southend has fallen to just one departure, representing 99.8% below the March 2019 numbers.
It shows a year of continued growth despite challenges in the last 12 months.
Sally Gethin, aviation expert
According to Cirium, in February of this year departures from the UK were up 44% compared to half-term 2022, and 731% up compared to half-term 2021, showing the continued recovery of the industry. The most popular international destinations for UK departures will be Dublin, Amsterdam, Geneva, Tenerife-South and Paris CDG.
easyJet is expected to be the busiest airline during the holiday period, with 3,126 departures from the UK, followed by British Airways, Ryanair and Loganair. Heathrow Airport will see the largest number of departures, 4,092, followed by Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester.
Aviation expert Sally Gethin told TTG magazine that Cirium’s numbers for March were not surprising. “It shows a year of continued growth despite challenges in the last 12 months,” Gethin told TTG. “Including recruitment shortages, debt burdens from covid lockdowns and border closures, as well as higher operating costs due to the energy crisis and inflationary pressures.”
The UK government removed the remaining restrictions on international travel for all passengers in March 2022, a few weeks before the Easter holidays.
