British Airways is expecting over one and a half million passengers this February half-term as British holiday-makers seek a break from the chilly weather.
According to the airline, the busiest days for air travel fall on Friday, February 13 and returning on Sunday, February 22, with over 120,000 people travelling on each date with the airline.
The popular long-haul holiday hotspots for British Airways customers and families looking for a break this half-term are Orlando, New York, Dubai, Los Angeles and Tampa. The top places for short-haul breaks are Rome, Barcelona, Tenerife, Malta and Fuerteventura.
Stephen Humphreys, British Airways’ head of UK&I sales and marketing, said: ‘The half-term holiday, whether it’s a long-haul flight to the sun or a quick city break to Europe, is becoming more popular each passing year, and 2015 is no exception.
‘British Airways has plenty of places to choose from to escape the chilly winter weather so families can jet off and enjoy some quality time together.’
Families and other travellers can also choose from British Airways Holidays’ last-minute breaks to destinations, including: New York – three nights at the Holiday Inn Midtown from GBP649 per person, travelling on February 17; Fuerteventura – seven nights at Hotel Castillo de Elba from GBP879 per person, travelling on February 14; and Malta – five nights at the Seabank Resort and Spa from GBP359 per person, travelling on February 17.
New family-friendly short-haul routes are set to launch later this year and include services to Bodrum, Crete, Dalaman, Madeira, Rhodes and Seville.
Following British Airways research, which showed that 60 per cent of parents feared they would not be able to keep their child occupied for over 30 minutes, the airline conducted a social experiment, where scientist and TV personality Dr Robert Winston observed the toys and games that kept youngsters most occupied during a flight.
Top tips from British Airways to keep both children and parents happy during travel include: carrying the children’s favourite food in a sealed container, downloading plenty of games for children to play on a tablet or smartphone, engaging children with skyflyer activity packs, packing less for the journey, and wearing loose fitting clothes, among others.
