UK Christmas Eve air travel set to break airport records

UK Christmas Eve air travel is shaping up to hit a new high, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said, with passenger numbers expected to be the largest recorded for the date since tracking began in 1972, as set out in a BBC report on the CAA’s festive travel projections.

The CAA forecasts that more than 335,000 people will be flying in the UK on Wednesday, around 5% more than on Christmas Eve in 2024. It also says only minimal disruption is expected across UK airports.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

CAA Christmas Eve passenger numbers and airport forecasts

Airports have issued their own estimates for Christmas Eve. Manchester airport said it expects about 75,000 passengers to pass through, with 208 flights leaving the UK, and that the figure will roughly halve on Christmas Day. Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin are its most popular destinations for Christmas Eve.

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Heathrow said it is heading into its busiest December period ever and expects 152,000 passengers on Christmas Day. EasyJet said 558 flights will depart on Christmas Day as part of what it called its busiest festive season ever. Stansted Airport, meanwhile, said Christmas Day should be relatively quiet.

The busiest single day of the festive period for air travel was Friday 19 December.

RAC Christmas Eve traffic delays and the worst times to drive

Away from terminals, the RAC said Britain’s roads are also expected to see one of the busiest Christmas Eves since records began — though another motoring group suggested the season’s traffic peaks may already have passed. The RAC warned that the worst time to travel on Wednesday is likely to be from 1pm to 7pm, as millions head off to be home before Christmas Day on Thursday, with delays expected on major routes.

It said likely pressure points include the clockwise northern and western sections of the M25 from mid-morning, and the M5 north from Gloucestershire towards the West Midlands later in the afternoon.

Rail services, motorway closures and travel advice

Millions will still travel by rail, but earlier last-train times may push more people onto the roads, adding to congestion. Several routes will be restricted or closed for maintenance over the Christmas period, with planned work listed in Network Rail’s Christmas and New Year engineering works update.

National Rail services do not run on Christmas Day, and only a small number will operate on Boxing Day, according to the National Rail Christmas and New Year 2025/26 Travel Summary. National Express coaches said it will run on Christmas Day to 96 destinations.

RAC mobile servicing and repair team leader Nick Mullender said 2025 was “looking to be the busiest getaway period since our records began” in 2013. He said Christmas Eve is expected to be the busiest, with workers saving annual leave and leaving for trips at the last minute.

The AA, which provides traffic updates across the UK, said 19 December was the busiest point of the season. For Christmas Eve, it warned the M27 will close in both directions between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) from 8pm on Christmas Eve until 4am on 4 January for major works at Junction 10, affecting road journeys between Southampton and Portsmouth.

Drivers are advised to check tyres, expect delays, and make sure oil and coolant levels are correct. With colder weather expected to increase breakdowns, 4.2 million journeys will be taken on roads.

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