Weather prompts flight to the sun

By Brendan Anderson
BBC News Website

The unpredictable weather this summer has caused many people to join the last minute rush abroad for a little sun.

Bad weather at home has led many families to seek the sun abroad

It has also meant a busy time for travel agents, airlines and airports who are all reporting a significant increase in business.

With the start of the new school year fast approaching, families who feel they have missed out on a decent summer are making a late dash to the sun spots of Europe.

Travel agents say they have been inundated in the past two weeks.

Doreen McKenzie, spokeswoman for the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), said it was not just the poor weather in Northern Ireland which was leading to the exodus.

"People who would normally holiday in the south of England feel they can't go there now because of the severe flooding," she said.

The airport expects to deal with 1.3m passengers this summer

"And others who like to holiday in Scotland can't be sure of decent weather there either."

Ms McKenzie said the travel industry had experienced something of an upturn with business increasing by 20% in recent years.

She said, however, that many holidays still represented good value.

"People, however, need to be flexible, need to decide on a budget and then go to their travel agent with that."

Debra Matchett of Belfast International Airport said it was too early to say exactly how many passengers they catered for this summer.

"We do know, however, that the airport is buzzing. We know it is busier than last year and we expect in excess of 1.3m passengers coming through for the July-August period," she said.

Ms Matchett said three charter flights, each carrying 300 passengers, were scheduled to fly to Florida on Friday.

"And established flights to Spain are, this year, carrying increased capacity to places like Malaga, Ibiza and Palma," she said.