Exact dates UK airports will experience summer travel chaos – will you be affected?

Scottish Sun

29-07-2025

Plus, all you need to know about flight compensation
HOL NO Exact dates UK airports will experience summer travel chaos – will you be affected?
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THE summer holidays are now underway, which means one thing - more people travelling.
Each year airports across the UK prepare for busy summer seasons with hundreds of thousands of Brits heading off abroad - so we've rounded up all the dates you might run into problems at the airport.
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Airports are expecting high passenger numbers across the summer period
Credit: PA
London Gatwick Airport
If travelling from London Gatwick Airport, you can expect the busiest days to be Sunday, August 3 and Sunday, August 10.
On each day 900 flights are scheduled.
Passenger numbers are then expected to peak on Sunday, August 17.
If travelling through the airport this summer holiday, you can keep liquids up to 100ml and electronic devices in your bags.
The airport claims this will help more than 95 per cent of passengers get through security in less than five minutes.
Over the summer the airport will serve 224 destinations via 59 airlines, including 160 short-haul flights with Malaga, Barcelona and Majorca being the most popular spots.
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport is expecting August 22 to be the busiest day in terms of passenger numbers and the week commencing August 25 to be the busiest overall with 817,000 passengers.
In comparison, the week starting August 4 will see around 797,000 passengers and the week starting August 18 will see around 812,000 passengers.
Over the summer holidays, the airport expects to see on average 800,000 passengers a week.
London Stanstead Airport
For London Stansted Airport, they are expecting this summer to be its busiest yet.
The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her top tips when flying
In total, the airport is anticipating up to 4.4million passengers to travel through the terminal during the summer holidays.
On average, the airport anticipates that around 100,000 people will travel through the airport each day.
As for the busiest day, that will be this weekend on Saturday August 3, with 107,000 people expected at the airport.
The peak arrival day for the airport will be Sunday August 31, with 55,000 people expected to return to the UK.
In total, between July 19 and August 31 the airport estimates it will welcome 2.2million departing passengers, with a similar number also arriving to the UK through the period.
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Gatwick Airport is anticipating that Sunday August 3 and Sunday August 10 will be the busiest days
Credit: Getty
Birmingham Airport
Birmingham Airport is expecting 2.1million passengers to travel through the airport across the six-week summer holidays.
This will be a five per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
In addition, if you are travelling through Birmingham Airport this summer you can now go through security with liquids in containers up to two litres.
There is no limit to the number of two litre containers a passenger can carry and all liquids can be kept loose in hand luggage.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
This year, Liverpool John Lennon Airport is expecting its busiest summer ever with over 720,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport over the summer holidays.
This will be an eight per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
And all passengers departing from Liverpool can leave their liquids and large electronic items such as laptops in their hand luggage.
However, all liquids are still limited to 100ml.
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In comparison, Manchester Airport is expecting August 22 to be the busiest day
Credit: Getty
East Midlands Airport
Those travelling from East Midlands Airport will be happy to hear that the airport has already had its busiest week due to early school holidays locally.
This took place in the week commencing July 14, where 118,000 passengers travelled through the airport.
The airport's next busiest week is expected to be the week of August 18, when it is expecting 117,600 passengers.
Passengers travelling via East Midlands Airport will also be able to leave electrical items and liquids in hand luggage, although the 100ml limit still applies.
London Heathrow Airport
Whilst a specific date for Heathrow's busiest day is not clear, this week is expected to be the airport's busiest across the summer.
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A number of airport are also expecting this summer to be their best yet
Credit: Getty
Through summer the airport expects to see consistently high numbers of passengers, which will be over 250,000 people flying in and out of Heathrow every day.
London Luton Airport
London Luton Airport is expecting its peak day for departing passengers to be Sunday August 3.
The airport also expressed that the most popular city break destinations include Amsterdam, Dublin and Paris.
Bristol Airport
The Independent also reports that August 15 and 22 are expected to be Bristol Airport's busiest days with around 40,000 travelling through the airport.
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
A major UK airport has also revealed a huge 15-year masterplan with new long-haul flights and millions more passengers.
Plus, European airports are finally scrapping strict 100ml liquid rule after nearly 20 years.