Two million fly off for Easter as airlines offer bargain deals

AIRLINES are offering last-minute bargain flights as thousands of Londoners prepare to leave the capital for Easter.

A surge of late bookings for Easter breaks in the last month means that more than two million people will pass through London's airports over the holiday period, leading to possible delays and long queues.

Easter was set to be one of the busiest on record with many recession-hit families opting for British holidays, causing heavy rail and road traffic. But experts now warn that thousands are taking advantage of last-minute deals to head abroad despite the credit crunch.

Heathrow is expected to see one of its busiest days of the year so far with 200,000 travellers flying out today.

New York, Amsterdam and Dubai are among the top destinations for tourists. Virgin Atlantic is offering a return fare to New York for £249 while on terminala.co.uk, there are flights to Dubai for £316.

Amsterdam looks set to be one of the most popular city destinations this weekend with easyJet offering return flights for £160.

Breaks outside the eurozone will also be popular. Return flights to Budapest with WizzAir are going for £190. A British Airports Authority spokesman said: "The number of flights is actually up on last year despite the economy and the weak pound."

Frances Tuke, from the Association of British Travel Agents, said: "Despite the credit crunch, people are simply unwilling to give up their Easter holiday. They may well be much more discerning about where they go and how they spend their money when they are there, but they are going nonetheless."

During the holiday weekend, nearly 300,000 people will leave from Heathrow. About 270,000 more will fly out from Gatwick, 200,000 from Stansted and 60,000 from Luton airport. Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: "It appears consumer confidence is rising, and people feel they have enough money in their pocket or just simply have had enough of worrying and have made the decision to go on holiday."

Noel Josephides, director of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, said: "We are seeing a huge increase in the number of people opting for all-inclusive holidays."

He added that foreign properties bought during the boom were now being let out at attractive rates to prevent them standing empty.

GETAWAY TROUBLESPOTS

RAIL

Trains between London and Birmingham diverted via High Wycombe adding 45 minutes to journeys.

Engineering on West Coast mainline to Manchester and Liverpool on Easter Saturday through to noon on Sunday.

Engineering in Wimbledon disrupts suburban services into Waterloo.

Thameslink shut between St Pancras and Herne Hill. Trains from North terminate at Kentish Town or St Pancras, trains from South at London Bridge.

ROADS

Roadworks:

M42: Junctions 7-9. Junctions 9 and 11 in both directions.

A2: Gravesend, Kent, Marling Cross Junction.

M23: South Nutfield to Pease Pottage Junction 11. Southbound junctions 8-9 and 10-11.

M5: Junctions 8-9, both directions.

M25 between junctions 12-17 and junction 27.

Channel tunnel and ferry ports.

M1 northbound.

TUBE

Circle line out of service from Good Friday until next Tuesday.

District, Jubilee, Metropolitan and Northern lines will be disrupted.