The festive season is one of the most busiest times to travel, as thousands of Brits head off on a European getaway to experience a Christmas market, or fly abroad to stay with loved ones. Airports are expected to be particularly chaotic this month, with two dates revealed as the busiest times to fly.

Last year, a whopping 22 million passengers flew in December, with the number expected to rise even higher this year. Heathrow alone is anticipated to have seven million travellers pass through its four terminals this month during the festive period.

It follows a report from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that revealed 2025 was the busiest summer on record for UK airports, with a staggering 90.2 million passengers travelling between July and September. As a result of this, and the impending festive departures, the number of passengers for 2025 could surpass 300 million, the CAA said, compared to last year's total of 295 million.

There is expected to be a surge in travel in the days leading up to Christmas Day and another rush in the days before New Year's Eve. However, Friday, 20 December and Sunday, 28 December, have been predicted to be the two busiest days for UK airports.

International relocation experts at 1st Move International analysed travel data from seven of the UK's biggest airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Luton, Edinburgh, and Birmingham) from 2023 and 2024 to reveal the results. They found that the Friday before Christmas and the Sunday before New Year's Eve were the prime times to travel during the festive season.

In a bid to help us during the busy airport travel time, the managing director at 1st Move International, Mike Harvey, shared his top tips:

Arrive early

"At peak times, security queues can double. We would recommend allowing extra time and arriving at least four hours before long-haul and three hours before short-haul flights, as this is the safest call the week before Christmas."

Use fast-track security

"Most airports offer a reasonably priced fast-track lane. It's often under £10 and can save 20 to 40 minutes during the peak festive surge."

Pre-book everything

"If your Christmas getaway is already booked, get the extras sorted now! Parking, lounges, baggage and even airport meals can sell out or jump in price during peak travel. Booking ahead keeps costs (and stress) down."

Check real-time airport apps and social media

"Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted all share real-time queue times and updates via their apps and social channels. Checking up to 8 hours before you head to the airport is essential; it helps you factor in any longer wait times and plan your journey stress-free."

Use hand luggage where possible

"The nature of busy festive travel can increase the risk of baggage delays, so ensure that you keep your essentials in your hand luggage!"

Selina Chadha, group director for consumers and markets at the CAA, also said ahead of the busy festive season: "We now have more people flying than ever before and are on track for the biggest Christmas getaway in history.

"With high passenger numbers and the potential for bad weather that winter brings, make sure you check for disruption, including on your route to the airport.

"Ahead of travelling, we encourage people to plan their packing to avoid delays at security and know their rights when things go wrong."

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