Travellers have been urged to plan ahead amid concerns of getaway chaos over the Easter weekend. Motorways, airports and ferry terminals are expected to be packed over the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend.
Experts have predicted that Good Friday will be the busiest getaway day for trips and staycations. Some 27.6 million car journeys are expected to take place over the weekend, according to the AA.
Drivers have been urged to set off on Thursday or leave early on Saturday if possible. The Department for Transport said it is working with operators to minimise disruption, but is advising people to allow extra time for their journeys.
Drivers have been urged to 'pack essential supplies and extra medication in case of delays'. They have also been told to allow extra time for journeys.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “All our polling suggests that Good Friday will be the busiest getaway day for Easter trips and staycations. If some drivers can leave on Thursday or early Saturday, they may miss some of the jams.”
The motoring organisation also estimated that, with higher fuel prices, a 500-mile round trip will see drivers paying £20 more at the pumps than they did last Easter.
It is also set to be another busy weekend at Manchester Airport, following weeks of chaotic scenes and long queues. Travellers reported 'carnage' at the airport's Terminal 1 yesterday (Wednesday) with more complaints that queues for check-in and security where starting outside of the building.
Others reported heavy delays at passport control as they attempted to enter the airport, and an hour-long wait to access any of the terminal's restaurants. Holidaymakers have been advised to arrive three hours before their flight, as the mayor of Greater Manchester warned that queues and delays could continue for at least another two months.
Elsewhere across the country, holidaymakers have already faced flight cancellations this week and queues for cross-Channel ferry services look set to continue as a number of P&O vessels remain detained due to safety issues.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said there were 'additional deficiencies' found during a reinspection on Wednesday of the Pride of Kent, while the Spirit of Britain vessel was detained on Tuesday after an inspection found 'a number of deficiencies'. The suspension of Dover-Calais sailings by P&O Ferries means there is a shortage of capacity on the key route just as Easter weekend approaches.
Rail passengers have also been warned of delays as Network Rail carries out 530 engineering projects costing a total of £83 million. This includes the closure of the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Milton Keynes for four days from Good Friday due to upgrades of the existing line and HS2 work.
Meanwhile, the Met Office has said the weather looks like it will be 'playing ball' for the long weekend. Forecaster Craig Snell said: “As Bank Holidays go it is looking fairly fine and dry across the UK, so I think people will certainly be able to get out and enjoy the countryside or whatever it is they’re doing over the Easter weekend.
“The weather will be playing ball. All in all, it looks like travel conditions are going to be fairly ok, weather-wise.”
