AGP Executive Report

Autumn Breaks: Lake District spots Loughrigg Tarn and Elterwater rank eighth among the UK’s top autumn destinations. A survey found autumn is now the favourite season for UK staycations, with 35% choosing it. Airport Changes: The Government will review airport drop-off charges after sharp increases. East Midlands and Birmingham airports are introducing facial-recognition checks for British arrivals, with wider rollout expected by early 2027. New Routes: easyJet has announced new Southampton services, while Ryanair and easyJet have unveiled routes from other UK airports. Ferry Services: Brittany Ferries’ Poole–Cherbourg route has closed three weeks early, ending a service that began in 1986. Tourism Jobs: Wales lost 6,000 tourism jobs in a year, prompting a warning about the sector’s health.

Airport Charges: The Government will review airport drop-off fees after sharp rises at Gatwick and other UK airports, a move welcomed by travel businesses. Flights: easyJet and Ryanair have unveiled summer 2027 routes from UK airports, while easyJet is adding Southampton links; Loganair is cutting its Newcastle services to Southampton and Exeter. Rail and Ferries: Plans to bring international services to Stratford could boost tourism, while a UK–France ferry route has closed three weeks early after more than 40 years. LNER has also released Easter 2027 tickets months ahead. Visitor Pressure: Bibury in the Cotswolds plans riverbank fencing to protect wildlife from heavy visitor numbers and paddling. Regional Travel: The Northumberland Line has passed two million journeys as plans advance for its expansion.

Tour Operators: Simpson Travel has acquired South France Villas, adding properties in Languedoc and the French Riviera. Welsh Tourism: John Lewis Partnership is selling Bala Lake Hotel near Llyn Tegid, leaving staff and regular guests disappointed; the news comes as Wales faces concern over losing 6,000 tourism jobs in a year. Flights: TUI plans eight new routes from a major UK airport, while Ryanair will end Britain’s only direct service to Bremen next year, cutting 500,000 seats. Travel Disruption: Strong winds are set to affect Scotland, with recent gales already disrupting rail and ferry services in the west. Autumn Breaks: North Wales village Beddgelert ranks among the UK’s most fairytale-like destinations, while Northumberland’s Allen Banks is a top pick for autumn colours. Holiday Demand: ABTA says bookings have returned to near pre-pandemic levels, with cost-conscious travellers increasingly turning to travel professionals.

Airport Changes: Glasgow is due to join a phased rollout of contactless eGate checks, expected at UK airports by early 2027. Passengers must still carry their passports. Europe Travel Alert: ABTA says ETIAS applications are not open, despite more than 150 scam sites; no launch date has been set. Holiday Safety: Rhodes is under a state of emergency after deadly flash floods submerged roads and prompted more than 100 distress calls. New UK Stay: Accor has opened its first UK greet hotel in Harlow, with 119 rooms and rail links to London. Rail Breaks: ScotRail is promoting Oban for festive trips, with 100,000 extra advance tickets due on sale from October 21 and savings of up to 60%. LNER is offering £12 fares to Leeds for Light Night on October 28 and 29. Travel Industry: Jet2 won three honours at Northern Ireland’s Travel & Tourism Awards, including Best Airline to Europe.

Scotland Travel: Strong winds have forced CalMac to cancel 13 sailings on Wednesday, including Troon–Brodick and Oban–Castlebay; other routes may also be disrupted, so check before travelling. Rail: Serving personnel, veterans and eligible bereaved relatives can travel free to Remembrance services this November. From December 13, trains between Sheerness and Sittingbourne will run every 30 minutes, doubling the current frequency. UK Destinations: Chichester is among Expedia’s fastest-growing destinations for 2027. VisitEngland’s new coastal campaign aims to boost autumn and 2027 bookings, after domestic coastal breaks fell 18% year on year. Airports: Just 20% of Manchester Airport passengers used public transport to get there in 2025. Birmingham Airport says a £2bn plan could double flights and passenger numbers without a second runway, while Heathrow is urging ministers to back its proposed third runway. Flight Changes: Ryanair plans to end UK flights to Bremen after March 27, 2027, leaving no direct links between the UK and the German city.

Europe Travel Warning: ABTA says Britons should not apply for ETIAS while its launch remains delayed; more than 150 unofficial sites are already offering applications. Airport Changes: UK airports are preparing face-scanning checks for international travellers. Flight Disruption: A British Airways flight returned safely to Gatwick after a reported cracked window; the airline cited a minor technical issue. Holiday Weather: Travellers in Greece face warnings for severe rain, hail and 60mph winds, with transport disruption possible. UK Destinations: Drought on Lundy has forced emergency water measures and could threaten the island’s ability to stay open. Travel Trends: ABTA says demand remains resilient, with more holidaymakers turning to travel professionals; ScotRail has also recorded a record 48 million-plus journeys.

Scottish Tourism: Immersive attractions drew an estimated 1.6 million visitors in Scotland over the past year, generating £233 million and supporting more than 3,000 jobs. Air Travel: Jet2 is axing some routes to Spanish island destinations, while Ryanair has announced 11 new UK routes; industry leaders are also urging the Government to freeze Air Passenger Duty and stop taxing children. Airport Changes: Contactless facial recognition checks are set to expand to 13 UK airports, with passport-free e-gates expected by early 2027. UK Destinations: Sandbanks in Dorset has been named the country’s best beach. In York, the National Railway Museum has opened its young photographers’ competition, with winning images to be displayed in York and Shildon in 2027.

Travel Alerts: Britons have been warned to avoid Riyadh airport after attacks prompted closures and flight disruption in Saudi Arabia. Flight Changes: Jet2 will end its Manchester–La Palma service on October 30 and scrap a planned Stansted route; affected customers can rebook or claim a refund. Airport Changes: East Midlands is the first UK airport to introduce passport-free facial-recognition eGates, with upgrades planned at 13 airports by early 2027. Rail Travel: A four-week Merseyrail closure between Hunts Cross and Moorfields began on Monday, with replacement buses in operation. CrossCountry, meanwhile, plans eight extra trains to add 60,000 seats a week from 2027. Travel Costs: British travel businesses are urging the Government to freeze Air Passenger Duty, warning that the tax weighs on families and the sector.

Saudi Travel Warning: The Foreign Office has urged Britons to avoid Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after repeated Houthi attacks and advised against all but essential travel to Jeddah, Dammam and other Saudi airports, except Medina. Flights have been suspended or diverted, and Riyadh Air cancelled services including Heathrow. Airport Entry: Gatwick has begun using facial recognition at eGates, so eligible arrivals can cross the border without presenting a passport. Travellers should still carry one in case extra checks are needed; the rollout is due to reach all UK airport eGates by early 2027. Flight Choices: easyJet has cut another 700,000 winter seats, while Ryanair has announced 29 new summer 2027 routes, including a UK connection to Budapest. Road Disruption: Tyne Bridge is set to close for 10 days over the October half-term as restoration work gets under way.

Airport changes: Contactless eGates are rolling out at UK airports, starting at East Midlands, with Stansted and others expected to follow by early 2027. The system could speed up arrivals, but travellers should still carry their passports. Overseas travel: Attacks on Riyadh airport have prompted flight suspensions and fresh travel warnings; check airline updates and UK advice before travelling to Saudi Arabia. Getting around: Merseyrail’s Hunts Cross line is shut until November 7, with replacement buses in place. Overnight A55 closures near Ewloe run through October 23. Seasonal breaks: Manchester Christmas Markets return on November 6, with the giant Santa back in Albert Square for the first time since 2017. London attractions: The Phantom of the Opera marked 40 years in the West End with a gala at His Majesty’s Theatre.

Travel Alert: UK nationals are being urged to avoid Riyadh airport after an attack killed 12 people and injured more than 300; flights were suspended, disrupting journeys across the region. Airport Changes: Contactless passport checks are starting at 13 UK airports, allowing eligible passengers to use e-gates without presenting a passport, though travellers must still carry one. Wales Tourism: Holiday-let businesses say the 182-night letting threshold is hurting the sector, as the Welsh Government consults on reducing it. UK Breaks: The Isles of Scilly has been named the UK’s best islands in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2026 readers’ awards, while Tenby has been praised as the country’s most beautiful place to visit. Road Disruption: Drivers face a full weekend closure of the M60 at Simister Island until Monday morning, with diversions in place.

Riyadh Disruption: The UK Embassy has urged British nationals to avoid King Khalid International Airport after an attack caused injuries, suspended operations and flight cancellations. Check with airlines before travelling. UK Airports: Contactless e-gates are being introduced at 13 airports, but passengers must still carry their passports. Rail Travel: Weekend engineering works are disrupting West Coast Main Line services via Nuneaton and trains between Leeds and York, with further cancellations reported elsewhere. Check before setting out. Airline Capacity: easyJet is cutting up to 1.4 million winter seats as fuel costs remain high, potentially limiting travel options. Airport Investment: Birmingham Airport’s proposed £2 billion expansion aims to support growth to 30 million passengers a year. Visitor Safety: Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated after a man died after entering a tiger enclosure; police said the animal was uninjured and there was no wider risk to the public. Tourism Pressure: Residents of Bibury say heavy visitor numbers are bringing congestion and invasions of privacy, renewing questions about how popular destinations can manage tourism.

Airline Fees: The government is considering rules that would require airlines to seat children under 14 beside an accompanying adult for free and stop charges for correcting booking-name errors. A return trip can currently cost families up to £104 just to sit together. Airport Borders: Contactless facial-recognition eGates are rolling out, with East Midlands first and all UK airport gates due to be upgraded by early 2027. Passengers should still carry their passports. UK-Pakistan Flights: PIA has leased two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners from Norse Atlantic, expected to start serving UK routes in November and add capacity. Channel Travel: Brittany Ferries’ Poole–Cherbourg service is set to end on October 12, closing a route that has operated since 1985. Edinburgh Airport: An AAIB report says a British Airways jet issued a distress signal after striking a runway irregularity during take-off last October, temporarily losing navigation information.

Airport Borders: Contactless facial-recognition gates began rolling out at Birmingham and East Midlands airports on October 6, with 11 more UK airports due to follow by early 2027. Passengers may not need to show passports at the gates, but must still carry them. Regional Flights: Loganair is scrapping its Newcastle–Exeter service after a review of demand; the airline says it is contacting affected customers with their options. Airline Upgrades: British Airways has revealed new First and business-class cabins for its A380s as part of a major fleet refit, while a new Heathrow Terminal 5 lounge is planned for 2028. Rail Support: Bereaved military family members have until noon on October 16 to apply for free National Rail travel to Remembrance Weekend events. Holiday Planning: Jet2 has opened bookings for summer 2028 from Bournemouth Airport, while Inghams has rebranded its walking operation as Inghams Summer to reflect a wider range of activities, including cycling, sightseeing and cultural trips.

Airport Arrivals: East Midlands has introduced facial-recognition checks that let passengers pass through the border without presenting a passport. Birmingham is next, with other UK airports expected to follow by early 2027. Visitor Levies: FSB Scotland wants North Lanarkshire to pause its proposed tourist tax, warning small guest houses and B&Bs lack the capacity to manage it. The group points to implementation problems in Edinburgh. UK Breaks: Kent’s Walmer offers beach walks, traditional food and award-winning castle gardens, while Cornwall’s Polperro is drawing autumn visitors with its quieter streets and mild weather. Cruising: Viking’s 15-day British Isles Explorer links destinations including Greenwich, Dover, Wales, Belfast, Edinburgh and the Orkney Islands.

Airline Investment: British Airways has unveiled refurbished A380 cabins, with new seats and screens across every class and 106 Club Suite seats making up its largest business-class cabin. Airport Changes: Facial-recognition e-gates are due at 13 UK airports, potentially speeding up passport checks for returning passengers. Tourist Tax Debate: Edinburgh and Cornwall residents back visitor levies, despite national opposition; Scottish hotels warn the charge could affect business. UK Hospitality: The Grand in York was named the UK’s top independent hotel with more than 50 rooms. Airport Expansion: Birmingham Airport’s proposed £2bn development could create 50,000 jobs, while plans for a major Lake District holiday-park expansion have also emerged. Flight Disruption: A British Airways flight bound for Chicago returned to Heathrow after a steep emergency descent, prompting renewed attention to passenger safety.