Surprise Christmas flights boom

British holidaymakers are ignoring the threat of terrorism, with nearly one million planning to fly abroad for Christmas.

The exodus, predicted by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), counters fears of a mass stay-at-home. Bookings are said to be almost as high as last year when, for the first time, one million people went abroad over the 10-day holiday.

An ABTA spokeswoman said: "Two-thirds of people booked holidays before 11 September and they have not cancelled. Almost all remaining holidays have been snapped up since. People seem to be fed up putting their lives on hold and want to travel again."

Airtours, the country's largest operator, said Christmas holidays have sold "very well". A spokeswoman added: "Despite what has been said, people are travelling as normal."

Fears of terrorist attacks in America appear to have been largely ignored. Travel agents report that Florida remains very popular while New York, Los Angeles and Miami are BA's three most popular long-haul destinations.

The Canary Islands, the most favoured package destination, is "almost completely sold out", with Spain, Tenerife, and skiing holidays in France hugely popular.

ABTA says the busy Christmas break should give a huge boost to the struggling travel trade which has seen thousands of jobs axed and been through a "very tough winter". Bookings for next summer, however, remain low.

The domestic tourism market also appears set to profit at the end of a disastrous year. Bookings for Christmas and the New Year at hotel chains such as Jarvis, Best Western and Warner are as good, and in some cases better, than last year. The apparent increase in domestic short breaks is borne out in advance flight bookings.

Barcelona, Madrid and Rome have been overtaken by Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh - all new entries in BA's top 10 short-haul destinations. London's struggling tourist trade, limping to the end of what may have been its worst year on record, will also benefit.

The capital is the "hot favourite" for short breaks this Christmas, according to operators such as Superbreak, which says London and York are by far its most popular destinations.

? British Airways may abandon short flights in favour of focusing solely on long-haul operations as part of a strategic review aimed at stemming its losses.

Chief executive Rod Eddington is believed to have told some of the airline's biggest shareholders that its short-haul business is causing the company the most financial pain.

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