AGP Executive Report

Storm Disruption: Storm Boelo killed two people and caused widespread travel disruption, with flights, rail and ferry services affected and thousands still without power. More unsettled weather is forecast, so check with operators before travelling. New Routes: A new daily UK–Cyprus service is on sale, while British Airways has begun daily Gatwick flights to Barbados, adding to its Heathrow service. Blackpool Plans: Campaigners have proposed a motorhome park at Blackpool Central, alongside plans for a major leisure development and possible 20,000-seat arena. Halloween Tourism: Derry’s 40th Halloween festival is drawing more than 100,000 visitors for four days of events, reinforcing Northern Ireland’s appeal as a seasonal break.

Storm Disruption: Storm Boelo brought 84mph gusts, flooding and widespread travel disruption across Scotland, northern England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A man died after being struck by a falling tree in Scotland, and more than 82,000 properties remained without power. Travellers were urged to check services before setting out, with further unsettled weather possible. Airport Delays: A power surge at Stansted disrupted security and baggage systems, delaying around 250 flights and cancelling six. The airport said systems were back in service by evening. At Birmingham, a Jet2 flight from Venice veered onto grass after landing in strong winds; the airline cited exceptional weather conditions. New Connections: EGYPTAIR launched its first Birmingham–Cairo service, operating four times a week and adding a direct option for Midlands travellers. Faster Border Checks: Facial-recognition e-gates are due at 12 UK airports by early next year, allowing arriving passengers to pass through without scanning a passport, though passports will still be needed for check-in and boarding.

Storm Disruption: Storm Boelo has caused hundreds of flight cancellations and rail disruption, with amber wind warnings, flooding and further delays expected across Scotland, northern England and parts of Northern Ireland. Check before travelling. Air Travel: Jet2 is offering evening-before check-in and bag drop at 12 UK airports for passengers on flights before noon. New Routes: Ryanair is adding a ninth aircraft at Birmingham Airport and five destinations: Copenhagen, Rome, Warsaw, Marrakesh and Tirana. UK Breaks: Herefordshire’s Ledbury is among the UK’s best-value autumn stays, praised for its market-town character, walks and attractions. Northern Ireland Tourism: Tiger Woods is set to design a £30m championship golf course in Northern Ireland, a landmark project for the region. Family Flights: The government plans to ban airlines from charging to seat children under 14 beside a parent on UK flights, ahead of next summer’s holidays.

Storm Disruption: Storm Boelo is bringing winds of up to 80mph, heavy rain and flood risks across northern Britain. Rail services are cancelled or reduced, Scottish ferry routes are disrupted, and passengers have been told not to travel on some routes. A fallen tree has halted Stansted Express services, while events have also been cancelled. Bahamas Tragedy: Leanne Gregory, 36, from Nottinghamshire, died after rescuing her two sons from strong currents while snorkelling on a family holiday. Her husband called her a hero; the boys were brought to safety. Air Routes: British Airways will increase flights from Heathrow to Cincinnati, Las Vegas, San Francisco and St Louis next summer, adding capacity rather than launching new US routes.

Storm Boelo: Amber wind warnings forecast gusts above 80mph across Scotland, parts of northern England and Northern Ireland, with rail closures and possible road, ferry and flight disruption. Marathon Eryri has also been cancelled. Storm Austen Fallout: Thousands of homes lost power, flights were cancelled and part of Brighton’s West Pier collapsed as the previous storm battered southern Britain. Flight Changes: Jet2 cancelled its Manchester–La Palma service at the end of October, leaving some holidaymakers with just three weeks’ notice. Birmingham ranked second-worst among the UK’s 20 busiest airports for departures delayed by more than an hour. Winter Breaks: UK holiday parks are promoting indoor pools, woodland spas and discounted stays for the colder months.

Storm Disruption: Storm Austen has brought power cuts and travel chaos, with trains cancelled in North Wales, flights disrupted and Isles of Scilly ferries suspended. Storm Boelo is due to bring more severe weather this weekend; an amber warning covers much of Scotland, where seven rail lines are set to close and gusts could reach 80mph. New Routes: Wizz Air is adding year-round flights from London Luton to Málaga, Asturias and Granada from 25 October, with one-way fares below £30. Tour de France 2027: Routes through Scotland and Wales have been revealed, with Edinburgh hosting the Grand Départ and stages bringing the race to new parts of Britain.

Storm Disruption: Storm Austen is bringing dangerous winds and travel disruption, with amber warnings in the South West and rail speed restrictions in Scotland. Storm Boelo is expected to bring another blast over the weekend; check services before travelling. UK Tourism: Visitor numbers have helped generate £3.75 billion for Essex’s economy, while UKinbound warns Britain is losing the price war on tourism. Travel firms are urging the Chancellor to freeze Air Passenger Duty and reform business rates. New Flights: easyJet’s Birmingham–Agadir route launches on 27 October, with one-way fares from £21.99, offering a new option for winter sun. Major Cycling Event: The 2027 Tour de France route will bring the Grand Départ to Scotland, with stages also planned in Wales—promising a major boost for host destinations. Festive Breaks: Bookings for “Twixmas” coach holidays in Dorset are up more than 20%, as travellers extend their Christmas breaks.

Storm Travel Disruption: Storm Austen brings an amber wind warning to parts of south-west England, with gusts up to 80mph; Storm Boelo could bring further high winds and heavy rain to Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Road, rail and bus delays are possible, so check before setting out. Tour de France 2027: The full routes are out, with Edinburgh hosting the men’s Grand Départ on 2 July before the race crosses Scotland, Wales and England. Tourism experts expect a major boost for local businesses. Tourism and the Budget: Essex welcomed more than 52 million trips in 2025, generating £3.75bn for the county’s economy. But UKinbound warns Britain is losing ground on tourism prices, while independent travel firms are urging the chancellor to freeze Air Passenger Duty and reform business rates. Scottish Rail Works: Network Rail plans more than £15m of engineering work over Christmas and New Year, with some routes around Glasgow affected.

Travel Disruption: Storm Austen is set to bring winds of up to 80mph, with warnings of travel disruption across the UK; check forecasts and transport updates before setting out. Airfares: Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary says European fares could rise by as much as 20% in 2027 as fuel costs climb and airline capacity tightens, though no increase has been announced for any specific UK route. Family Holidays: easyJet holidays will cover the £66.50 passport fee for a baby aged up to 18 months on eligible bookings made by November 26. Hotel News: Edinburgh’s floating Fingal Hotel has won Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2026 title and is now in the running for a world award. New Flights: Virgin Atlantic has launched direct Heathrow–Phuket services three times a week, adding a non-stop option for winter-sun travellers. Late-night Travel: Glasgow has opened three staffed, CCTV-monitored bus hubs to help passengers get home safely on weekend nights.

Storm Disruption: Storm Austen is forecast to bring heavy rain and winds of up to 80mph, with warnings across parts of the UK. Rail passengers and half-term travellers should expect disruption; Northern Ireland is expected to miss the worst. Rail Travel: All 46 new Tyne and Wear Metro trains are now ready for service, with punctuality improving to 89.2% so far this year. Christmas engineering works will also affect journeys in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Wales Breaks: Belmond’s Britannic Explorer sleeper train has been spotted in North Wales; three-night journeys start at about £6,300 per person. UK Destinations: Dumfries and Galloway has been named among the world’s top destinations for 2027, while East Yorkshire’s Skipsea Sands holiday park is getting a £5m upgrade, due to open by Easter 2027. Air Links: Cyprus Airways plans daily Larnaca–London Stansted flights from April 2027. Visitor Pressures: New data highlights gaps in Edinburgh’s holiday-let planning rules, while Scotland’s visitor levy rules changed this month.

Storm Warning: Storm Austen could bring gusts of up to 70mph and transport disruption to parts of England and Wales on Friday; the Met Office advises households to prepare for possible power cuts. Lake District: A proposed £3.6bn, 12-mile tunnel aims to stop wastewater entering Windermere, which draws almost 18 million visitors a year. The government must decide whether the plan should proceed. Travel Disruption: Birmingham holidaymakers are among those affected by the planned four-month closure of Greece’s Chios airport for runway upgrades, which will suspend package flights to the island. Destination Spotlight: Dumfries and Galloway has been named among National Geographic’s top destinations for 2027, putting the Scottish region on the international travel map. Tourism Economy: Vale of Glamorgan tourism reportedly attracted more than six million visitors and generated £381.88m.

Storm Disruption: Storm Austen is forecast to bring gusts of up to 70mph and heavy rain to parts of the UK, with warnings of travel disruption and possible power cuts. New Routes: easyJet is adding summer 2027 services from Southampton to Málaga and La Rochelle, Edinburgh–Southampton flights and a Gatwick–Cagliari route; Ryanair is also expanding its UK network. Montenegro’s Appeal: UK visits to Montenegro nearly matched the country’s entire 2019 total in the first seven months of 2026, with three more direct routes planned for 2027, including Edinburgh and Leeds Bradford flights. Rail Investment: A proposed new Bradford station aims to improve links across the north, while GWR passengers could face disruption as rail workers prepare to vote on strike action. Scottish Getaways: Dumfries and Galloway has been named among National Geographic’s top destinations for 2027; visitors booking Scotland for next year should also check October’s changes to visitor-levy rules. Travel Advice: UK holidaymakers are urged to check the latest guidance before trips to France, where unrest and curfews have been reported.

Weather Disruption: A yellow warning for strong winds on Friday covers 22 areas of England, with possible power cuts and travel delays. Passenger Costs: The government will review airport drop-off fees after charges rose by around a third. Flight News: easyJet has announced 18 new UK routes, including six in Scotland, while Virgin Atlantic has started London–Phuket flights. Holiday Checks: Thousands of UK travellers could be caught out by passport expiry rules over half-term; new European hand-luggage rules have also been agreed, but UK passengers face a catch. Tourism Push: John Swinney is heading to India to promote Scottish tourism, food and drink, and education, calling the market a “golden opportunity”. New Route: A 50-mile pilot section of the Wales Forest Trail is opening up woodland walks across the south Wales valleys.

Travel Disruption: A fatal M6 crash has closed the northbound carriageway between junctions 23 and 24 while emergency resurfacing continues; drivers should check for updates and allow extra time. The Met Office also warns that strong winds and heavy rain could disrupt road, rail, air and ferry services in southern England and Wales on Friday. Airport News: Southend ranked third in a review-based study of UK airport security and passport checks, with 83% of comments positive. New Flights: British Airways plans to launch three weekly London flights to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar from May 2027, opening up direct links to Tanzania’s tourism hotspots. Scottish Tourism: Police Scotland has begun a week-long crackdown on salmon poaching, which officials say threatens river ecosystems and tourism jobs. Heritage Plans: A former bank near Barnard Castle could become a visitor hub with a café, shop and ticket office, as partners explore ways to restore and promote the historic site.

Public Transport: England’s local authorities can impose fines of up to £100 for loud music, vaping or littering on buses; a new campaign also urges passengers to use headphones on trains. Accessible Air Travel: The government has pledged better support for disabled passengers and safer handling of wheelchairs, with a digital tool to share assistance needs planned for trial. Christmas Fares: KAYAK says some Christmas and New Year return fares from the UK are down as much as 39% year on year; 23 December is the cheapest departure date in its analysis. Saudi Arabia Warning: The Foreign Office now advises against all but essential travel across the country and urges Britons to avoid Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, after attacks disrupted flights. At Gatwick: An easyJet flight from Tenerife landed safely after declaring an in-flight emergency over a technical issue; emergency crews met the aircraft as a precaution.

Flight Disruption: An easyJet flight from Glasgow to Southampton diverted safely to Liverpool after a bird strike; a replacement aircraft was arranged for passengers. Road Travel: The A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick remained closed after a serious crash, while the A628 Woodhead Pass shut in both directions following a collision. Welsh Tourism: Caru Coed y Brenin has been invited to submit a final proposal to reopen the visitor centre and café, closed since 2024; the popular trails remain open. Ferry Links: Brittany Ferries’ Poole–Cherbourg service has ended after nearly 40 years, removing a direct cross-Channel option. Airport Costs: The Government is reviewing airport drop-off charges after sharp rises at Gatwick and other UK airports.