News
Social links 'fuelling European travel'
25 November 2008
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has released results of a survey showing that travel to visit friends and relatives is the fastest growing element of international passenger traffic at UK airports.
Social travel grew by two thirds between 2001 and 2007, according to the research, while the total number of international passengers increased by only a third.
The rise has mainly emerged in travel between the UK and the EU, with European destinations accounting for two thirds of the total increase in social travellers.
With 4m people visiting friends and relatives in 2007, Spain was the most significant individual contributor to this sector of the travel industry, followed by Germany (3m), Italy (2m) and Poland (2m).
Dr Harry Bush, CAA group director of economic regulation, said: 'The CAA's research highlights that aviation has been a key driver in increasing economic and social integration with Europe.
'There are now many more passengers travelling to and from the UK to visit friends and relatives in Europe – the result of increased labour mobility, overseas study and home ownership abroad.'
Short-haul travel to visit friends and relatives has grown strongly at a number of airports recently, including the smaller London hubs of Stansted and Luton and the regional gateways of Bristol, East Midlands and Liverpool.
Opodo cheap flights, hotels and car hire - let the journey begin!
Social travel grew by two thirds between 2001 and 2007, according to the research, while the total number of international passengers increased by only a third.
The rise has mainly emerged in travel between the UK and the EU, with European destinations accounting for two thirds of the total increase in social travellers.
With 4m people visiting friends and relatives in 2007, Spain was the most significant individual contributor to this sector of the travel industry, followed by Germany (3m), Italy (2m) and Poland (2m).
Dr Harry Bush, CAA group director of economic regulation, said: 'The CAA's research highlights that aviation has been a key driver in increasing economic and social integration with Europe.
'There are now many more passengers travelling to and from the UK to visit friends and relatives in Europe – the result of increased labour mobility, overseas study and home ownership abroad.'
Short-haul travel to visit friends and relatives has grown strongly at a number of airports recently, including the smaller London hubs of Stansted and Luton and the regional gateways of Bristol, East Midlands and Liverpool.
Opodo cheap flights, hotels and car hire - let the journey begin!
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