Free passage

Seat offerings are a 9% fall on 2019 numbers, accounting for around 200,000 passengers.

“The demand is still there but the UK market share used to be so high, that it will take a while to recover all of it,” added Mancebo.

The drop at Gatwick comes curiously as Manchester put on an extra 47,000 seats this summer.

Mancebo said that a lot of work has been done to extend the season through the winter and the first few months of the year were ‘very good’.

Benidorm-based hotel association Hosbec said there was a fall in the British market in early spring, but has recovered well in May.

UK bookings are now accounting for 50% of the resort's hotel occupancy. Around two million Brits are still expected to fly in for bucket and spade holidays this summer.

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