BRITISH airports are braced for their busiest getaway ever this Christmas.
Passenger numbers are expected to exceed the record 22 million last year – with more than 7 million passing through Heathrow alone in December.
Brits are now being advised to plan their packing to avoid delays at security.
Travel bosses are also urging people to know their rights when things go wrong.
They are also urging passengers to ensure they check any potential travel disruptions before heading to the airport.
It’s been a bumper year for travel in the UK in 2025.
The number of passengers for the year as a whole could exceed 300 million for the first time, according to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Last year, the total was 295 million.
Aviation minister Keir Mather said: “We know Britain wants to fly.
“Airports and airlines nationwide reported their busiest summer yet, as record numbers of passengers head off on business trips and holidays.
“As another busy festive period kicks off, we’ve secured the sector’s future.”
This summer was the busiest on record for UK airports, with 90.2 million passengers between July and September, according to the CAA.
European destinations continue to be the most popular international destinations for Brits.
Palma de Mallorca, Dublin, Amsterdam and Alicante topped the list this year.
The CAA has said punctuality is improving at UK airports but remains below pre-coronavirus levels.
Some 64% of flights arrived or departed within 15 minutes of their schedule in the third quarter of 2025, according to the CAA.
That is compared with 57% a year earlier, and 69% during the same period in 2019.
Selina Chadha, group director for consumers and markets at the CAA, said British airports now have “more people flying than ever before and are on track for the biggest Christmas getaway in history”.
She added: “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.”
