bmibaby reports more short break bookings

bmibaby is currently seeing an interesting trend in travel patterns for 2009. Bookings for breaks of less than four days are up by more than 20 per cent year on year, between January to April 2009, in comparison to the same period in 2008.

Only 31 per cent of all bookings were for trips of less than four days between January to April 2008, compared to 53 per cent in the same period in 2009.

The most popular destinations for short breaks between January to April 2009 are Edinburgh from East Midlands and Cardiff Airport, Amsterdam from Birmingham International Airport and Belfast from Manchester Airport.

Julian Carr, commercial director, bmibaby, said:

“We have seen a sharp increase in bookings for trips of less than four days this year. Fifty three per cent of our bookings between January and April 2009 are from people taking short trips, compared to just thirty one per cent in the same period in 2008.

“More passengers are booking shorter breaks, for business or leisure purposes. People are not prepared to give up the all important weekend break, and business travellers are migrating towards the low cost travel option.”

To help keep the costs down bmibaby advises travellers to book early, avoid peak travel times and be flexible with dates of travel.