Holidaymakers return to the skies

People are still heading for the sun at Christmas

A late surge in bookings for foreign holidays has brought a Christmas bonus for some travel agents.

Companies have been hit by a sharp downturn in the tourist industry in the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States.

But there are signs of a return to business as normal as holidaymakers prepare to take to the skies over Christmas and New Year.

The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) has estimated that up to a million Britons will jet off for Christmas breaks this year - in line with last year's figures.

I think a lot of people have decided that this thing is going to go on for a while, so they are going to get back on with their lives

Paul Wood, Martin Frutin Travel

And travel agent Thomas Cook is reporting an increase on last year's sales.

Scottish Airports, which runs Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, is expecting to deal with about 100,000 passengers in the three or four days before Christmas.

That would be in line with the levels of traffic through the three airports last year.

However, a spokesman stressed that this estimate also included the airports' usual business travellers.

Paul Wood, manager at Edinburgh's Martin Frutin Travel, said November and December were usually quiet months - but were now starting to get back to the levels seen in previous years.

Popular destination

He said: "In the last week or fortnight I have seen a difference in the business.

"It has been a lot busier than it was earlier in November.

"I think a lot of people have decided that this thing is going to go on for a while, so they are going to get back on with their lives."

Mr Wood picked out the Canary Islands as the most popular destination.

At Thomas Cook, PR manager Nick O'Donnell said sales were 2% up on last year for the Christmas and New Year period to about 400,000.

Up to one million Britons are expected to fly

"A lot of people are talking about 11 September, but there is also talk about recession," he said.

"It is making people book a lot later, both for Christmas and New Year and the rest of the winter season."

The Canary Islands remain the most popular destination, but the surge of late bookings has also seen a run on holidays to Florida in the United States.

Mr O'Donnell said that shopping breaks within the UK also remained popular, while trips to Lapland have sold out.

"The fact that people are booking late and going away for Christmas shows that they are happy to travel, that the confidence is returning," he said.

Late bookings

"Things are looking a lot better."

He said there had also been a lot of "tactical pricing" on destinations like Florida, leading to good deals for late bookers.

However, he warned that those planning to wait before booking next year's summer holiday in the hope of netting a cheap deal could be in for a disappointment.

"A lot of tour operators have cut back on capacity - hotel beds have come down by 20%," he said.

"If people want to go on holiday in January there is going to be less space.

"Prices might well firm up rather than coming down significantly."

The fact that people are booking late and going away for Christmas shows that they are happy to travel, that the confidence is returning

Nick O'Donnell, Thomas Cook

A spokeswoman for Lunn Poly pointed out that most people planned their festive break well in advance - so most Christmas and New Year bookings would have been made before the US terrorist attacks.

But she added: "This Christmas is up on last year so people are still travelling, which is all good news."

Market research by the travel agent suggested that some 300,000 people would be travelling abroad over Christmas - with mainland Spain and the Canary Islands again the most popular destinations.

An Abta spokeswoman predicted that its estimates would also offer a boost to travel confidence.

She said: "People are going on their travels. They don't want to put their lives on hold any longer."