Airports in UK suffered their biggest annual decline in over 65 years in 2009. During the recession, 7.4% fewer passengers purchased a plane ticket in the UK. Special offers and holiday bundles were not enough to save the industry from its worst year in decades.
UK domestic travel was also down by a staggering 8 percent. Industry insiders have determined that the decline in holiday traffic is primarily to blame for the staggering losses, with charter flights off by 17% in 2008.
The dramatic drop in UK holiday traffic has had a profound effect on many nations in the region. For example, Ireland depends on tourists from the UK as their most consistent and reliable source of travel revenue. And the huge decline in UK holiday travel has been an issue for nearly two years now. Most hotels cannot even afford to replace the carpets.
Travel from the UK to Ireland in 2009 set record lows. In the second half of the year, travel was off by 21 percent. Things did not improve in the first half of 2010 as Ireland was unable to encourage UK guests with lower hotel and airfare rates.
The one bright spot could be the summer session, which many believe will be a stellar one due to the drop in the euro. A lower euro means a higher exchange rate for pounds and much cheaper trips to the Emerald Isle.