It’s set to be a busy week ahead in aviation, as the Easter weekend and school holidays fast approach.
And a burst of wintry weather, coupled with the looming holidays, has triggered a surge in last-minute holiday bookings for next week.
Customers are set to travel on almost 30,000 flights overall, with 5.2 million seats on offer across Europe during the school break.
As a result, easyJet is set to see its busiest Easter weekend on record.
Last-minute Easter holiday bookings have surged by 76 per cent this week, with holiday experts pointing to a mix of deals and cold UK weather driving demand, according to On the Beach.
Across this first Easter travel weekend alone customers will take to the skies on more than 5,000 easyJet flights, as families make the most of the spring break to enjoy warmer weather and much‑needed time away.
From the UK, the airline is set to operate up to 16,000 flights during the Easter period, flying customers to destinations offering spring sunshine as well as classic European city breaks.
EasyJet holidays is set to welcome more than a quarter extra customers than last year’s Easter weekend.
The cold weather has encouraged Brits to book a last-minute break this Easter
And the skies are set to be even busier than usual, as the Easter period will also see London Gatwick welcome five new airlines.
Notably, Jet2 launched its inaugural flight from London Gatwick yesterday, heading to Tenerife.
It marked the start of Jet2 operating flights and package holidays from the UK’s second largest airport for the first time.
This inaugural flight was followed by another to Alicante shortly after.
Now, Jet2 flights and holidays for winter 2026/2027 and summer 2027 are on sale.
Gatwick is also welcoming Air France, Condor, Eurowings and Animawings, while AirAsia X, Air Arabia and Beijing Capital will touch down in the coming weeks.
A range of new routes will also be available from the likes of Norwegian and Royal Air Maroc, giving passengers the choice of more than 220 destinations.
So, where are Brits heading this Easter?
It comes as easyJet is set to face its busiest Easter yet, with up to 16,000 flights
Jet2 is adding to the aviation activity this week, launching its first flight from Gatwick
While Easter traditionally marks the end of the ski season, some higher‑altitude resorts remain open into April, meaning customers looking for late‑season snow still have plenty of options to hit the slopes.
According to On the Beach, the top destinations for Brits this Easter include Western Mediterranean destinations, Spain and the Canary Islands, which have both seen an increase in bookings as Brits look to familiar destinations for their breaks.
For sun‑seekers, Tenerife and Lanzarote remain among the most popular choices, while Spanish mainland favourites Alicante and Malaga also continue to be in high demand.
Greece has emerged as a standout destination, with last-minute bookings soaring 200 per cent week-on-week, while Turkey is also experiencing a late booking surge, seeing a 160 per cent rise in Easter holiday bookings.
Zoe Harris, chief customer officer at On the Beach, said: ‘Holidays are well and truly back on the menu this Easter, and in true Easter hunt fashion, Brits are finding some seriously good-value deals.
‘Destinations like Greece and Turkey are offering standout value alongside familiar favourites, Spain, the Canaries and Portugal, and with the UK weather showing no signs of improving, it’s no surprise we’ve seen a surge in people snapping up last-minute sunshine breaks.’
Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, added: ‘Every Easter we see more customers choosing easyJet for our unrivalled network, choice, brilliant package holidays and great value – and this year we’re set to fly more than 30,000 flights across Europe to over 140 destinations.
‘Easter marks a welcome chance for families, couples and friends to enjoy a break together, whether that’s a dose of early‑spring sunshine or exploring one of Europe’s great cities. We’re continuing to offer even more flying to the destinations that matter most to our customers, always focused on making travel easy.’
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