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Rain drives 2m Brits abroad on holiday
Two million British holidaymakers are set to travel abroad this weekend at the start of the school summer holidays, ABTA estimates.
The annual rush has been spurred this year as people seek to escape the unseasonal rain in the UK.
The most popular destinations are Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey, although the whole of Europe has sold well, according to the association.
Egypt, Florida and the Caribbean are the favourite medium to long haul destinations.
Heathrow and Gatwick expect up to 700,000 departures, Stansted 150,000. Luton 75,000, Manchester 130,000 and Birmingham 65,000, in addition to those flying from other regional airports.
Eurostar will be carrying 50,000 through the Channel Tunnel and more than 500,000 are due to travel by ferry.
ABTA advised travellers to be prepared before they leave to ensure they get through heightened airport security processes as quickly as possible as the extra numbers are bound to put a strain on resources.
Association president Justin Fleming said: “We all remember the excitement we felt when the summer holidays started. This year that excitement will be even greater as hundreds of thousands of families escape the rain for fun in the sun abroad.”
by Phil Davies
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