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Airports expecting 'busiest day' Airports expecting 'busiest day'
(about 1 hour later)
Airports are expecting the busiest day of the Christmas getaway as they return to normal after being disrupted by fog.Airports are expecting the busiest day of the Christmas getaway as they return to normal after being disrupted by fog.
Thousands of air passengers were left stranded on Friday night as fog stopped planes leaving Gatwick and Southampton and led to Stansted diverting flights.Thousands of air passengers were left stranded on Friday night as fog stopped planes leaving Gatwick and Southampton and led to Stansted diverting flights.
Rail travellers face severe problems because the West Coast Mainline is closing for five days. Rail travellers could face problems because the West Coast Mainline is closing for five days from 27 December.
On the roads, the busiest days are expected to be 27 and 28 December, mainly for the post-Christmas sales. On the roads, the busiest days after Friday's mass getaway are expected to be 27 and 28 December.
Fog disrupted flights from Gatwick and Southampton airports on Friday, mostly to Europe. More fog
Fog disrupted flights from Gatwick and Southampton airports on Friday, mostly to Europe, with all flights leaving Southampton after 1700 GMT stopped, and arrivals diverted to other airports.
A total of 16 departures were cancelled at Gatwick airport, with as many as 2,000 people affected.A total of 16 departures were cancelled at Gatwick airport, with as many as 2,000 people affected.
Incoming flights also had to be diverted away from London City.
Although flights are getting back to normal on Saturday, the Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for north-west England and most of Scotland, warning of freezing rain and icy roads.
UK TRAVEL MAP BBC Travel NewsThe festive travel front lineUK TRAVEL MAP BBC Travel NewsThe festive travel front line
All flights leaving Southampton after 1700 GMT were stopped, with arrival diverted to other airports. Incoming flights also had to be diverted away from London City. BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee said fog would cover much of England on Saturday, especially from Yorkshire to Oxfordshire.
For those heading abroad, top city-break destinations include Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and New York, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta). Ice is expected in Scotland, Northumbria and Cumbria.
The Canary Islands, Egypt, Goa and Dubai are also proving popular among travellers this year. Abta also said the busiest day for overseas travel will be Saturday, followed by 30 December when people head for New Year's Eve celebrations abroad. Frost is expected across the country on Saturday night, and extensive fog is also forecast for Sunday morning and possibly longer in England and Wales.
A record 3.5m Britons will head abroad for Christmas, with a total of 1.2m passengers expected to leave from London's Heathrow airport between 21 December and 2 January. On the roads, the Highways Agency is suspending roadworks on several motorways and major A-roads in England over the holiday period, but roadworks remain on some key routes, including the M1 and M25.
Over the same period some 600,000 are expected to pass through Gatwick, while 270,000 are flying from Manchester, 170,000 from Luton and 130,000 from Birmingham.
Eurostar trains will have carried 150,000 passengers from London to the continent by 2 January.
Meanwhile, UK airport workers have voted for industrial action, which will be taking place on 7, 14 and 17 January.
The dispute with BAA, which operates seven UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, is over the closure of final salary pensions to new employees.
Christmas Day should be much quieter on UK roads, with only 4m cars being driven.
The Highways Agency is suspending roadworks on several motorways and major A-roads in England over the holiday period, but roadworks remain on some key routes, including the M1 and M25.
Rail disruption
Adam Cracknell from the RAC said there would be a high volume of traffic on the roads on the 27 and 28 December because of the post-Christmas sales.Adam Cracknell from the RAC said there would be a high volume of traffic on the roads on the 27 and 28 December because of the post-Christmas sales.
"On those days people will be going back to work but they'll also be going sale shopping, so before noon there will be a lot of congestion on the nation's roads, but that shouldn't be as bad in the afternoon and evening." Strikes and sales
Christmas Day falls this year on a Tuesday and with more and more people taking two weeks off, we are expecting many passengers to travel on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas George Muir, Atoc class="" href="/1/hi/business/7155147.stm">Airport workers to strike On the trains, Saturday is expected to be very busy, with people due to travel after taking two weeks off work.
Kevin Groves, of Network Rail, said rail travellers on the West Coast Mainline would experience disruption because the company had "made a mistake" and under-estimated the amount of work being planned over the Christmas break. After Christmas, the West Coast Mainline is to close for longer than expected after Network Rail under-estimated the amount of work being planned over the Christmas break.
Christmas Day falls this year on a Tuesday and with more and more people taking two weeks off, we are expecting many passengers to travel on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas George Muir, Atoc
As a result, engineering work beginning on 27 December will now last until New Year's Eve, a day later than originally planned.As a result, engineering work beginning on 27 December will now last until New Year's Eve, a day later than originally planned.
The work will mean the closure of the West Coast Mainline, which affects any services that would have passed through Rugby, disrupting travel between London and Scotland, Manchester and Birmingham. The work will affect any services that would have passed through Rugby, disrupting travel between London and Scotland, Manchester and Birmingham.
These are mostly Virgin Train's services, but the closure also affects some London Midland and First ScotRail Sleeper services.These are mostly Virgin Train's services, but the closure also affects some London Midland and First ScotRail Sleeper services.
HAVE YOUR SAY I'm travelling from the bedroom via the stairs into the lounge. I might go exploring in the kitchen and, weather permitting, even sit outside on the patio Geoff Molloy, UK Send us your comments
Alternative services will be provided either by other train operating companies or replacement coaches.Alternative services will be provided either by other train operating companies or replacement coaches.
The Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) said Saturday was expected to be busy. Meanwhile, UK airport workers have voted for industrial action, which will be taking place on 7, 14 and 17 January.
George Muir, its director general, said: "Christmas Day falls this year on a Tuesday and with more and more people taking two weeks off, we are expecting many passengers to travel on the Friday and Saturday before Christmas." The dispute with BAA, which operates seven UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick, is over the closure of final salary pensions to new employees.
The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for north west England and most of Scotland, warning of freezing rain and icy roads. HAVE YOUR SAY I'm travelling from the bedroom via the stairs into the lounge. I might go exploring in the kitchen and, weather permitting, even sit outside on the patio Geoff Molloy, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3967&edition=1">Send us your comments
A record 3.5m Britons are expected to head abroad for Christmas, with a total of 1.2m passengers expected to leave from London's Heathrow airport between 21 December and 2 January.
Over the same period some 600,000 are expected to pass through Gatwick, while 270,000 are flying from Manchester, 170,000 from Luton and 130,000 from Birmingham.
Eurostar trains will have carried 150,000 passengers from London to the continent by 2 January.
Top city-break destinations include Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and New York, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta).
The Canary Islands, Egypt, Goa and Dubai are also proving popular.