Easter travel surge
UK Easter travel is ramping up — air bookings are up 13% and hotel demand is up 15% versus last year, with Cardiff Airport expecting about 46,000 passengers for the holiday period ( ). Drivers in London are also being warned after a survey found 66% have broken down on a motorway or major A‑road, prompting holiday travel cautions (itv.com).
Amadeus’ Easter analysis shows families and larger groups are driving the strongest air-booking growth, each rising 22% year‑on‑year, and it records London hotel occupancy at roughly 50% for the Easter period. (amadeus.com) Cardiff Airport’s timetable for March 27–April 12 lists 46,158 travellers expected, split as 23,211 arrivals and 22,947 departures, representing an 18% increase on the same period last year. (wales247.co.uk) The busiest routes from Cardiff this Easter are Alicante, Dublin and Málaga, operated mainly by Ryanair, Vueling and TUI Airways. (wales247.co.uk) Cardiff Airport’s chief executive, Jon Bridge, says the uptick in demand has pushed passenger volumes “towards the one million mark” for 2026, signaling a strong start to the airport’s year. (businessin.wales) AA polling finds 80% of drivers have experienced at least one breakdown and 16% report five or more breakdowns, illustrating how common roadside failures remain. (theaa.com) Data shows Fridays are the single worst day for motorway breakdowns — 45,956 breakdowns occurred on Fridays in 2024 — and Transport Focus’s recent survey flagged the M1 as the worst‑rated motorway amid widespread roadworks. (moneysupermarket.com) Transport bodies have published lists of planned engineering works across London over the Easter holiday, and the RAC has warned drivers to expect delays of more than an hour on key approaches to the city, increasing the chance that breakdowns will cascade into longer holiday delays. (londontravelwatch.org.uk)
