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Sharp drop in Christmas getaways | Sharp drop in Christmas getaways |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Holidaymakers have cut back on flying to the sun for Christmas, according to figures from airport operator BAA. | Holidaymakers have cut back on flying to the sun for Christmas, according to figures from airport operator BAA. |
Scottish airports identified Friday as the busiest day since the summer, with 53,000 passengers expected to travel. | |
But BAA - which operates Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports - said it expected numbers to be down by about 5% compared with a year ago. | |
About 250,000 holidaymakers will pass through Scotland's main airports in the run up to 25 December. | |
Aberdeen is forecast to handle 43,000 passengers from 19 to 24 December with Glasgow expecting 97,000 travellers, and Edinburgh 113,000. | |
The majority of people will be travelling to London - for onward flights elsewhere. | |
Favourite destinations for Scots looking for some sun include Tenerife, Alicante and Dubai. | |
But the figures reveal that while many people still want to travel, fewer will actually do so. | |
'Save money' | |
Figures showed Glasgow was set to experience the biggest year-on-year drop in holidaymakers, at 5.9%, while Aberdeen is expecting a 5.5% reduction. | |
There is also due to be a 3.3% fall in travellers flying from Edinburgh. | |
But that could be good news for the ski resorts here - which are hoping for a bumper winter season. | But that could be good news for the ski resorts here - which are hoping for a bumper winter season. |
Meanwhile, BAA Scotland has reminded festive travellers to pack gifts and souvenirs carefully before flying, and to adhere to the 100ml limit on liquids in hand luggage. | |
A spokesman said: "If anyone is planning to take any gifts or souvenirs on their flight, we'd recommend they pack them in their hold luggage. | |
"This helps reduce waiting times at security, and could save money. | |
"We don't want passengers to spend their hard earned cash on gifts and souvenirs, only to then abandon them at airport security because they breach government limits." | |
Earlier this year BAA Scotland revealed that 700,000 liquids containers had been rejected over a 12-month period because they exceeded the 100ml limit, costing travellers up to £3.5m. |
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