- UK airports are experiencing their busiest summer, with early mornings (typically 6am-8am) being the peak time for passenger traffic due to airlines maximising aircraft and crew productivity.
- To avoid the busiest periods, passengers are advised to book flights departing later in the day, after the initial "first wave" of departures.
- The "halfway point" for passenger departures, when half of the day's travellers have left, varies significantly between UK airports and can also depend on the day of the week.
- While an even spread would place the halfway point at 2:30pm, most airports reach this milestone earlier, with Birmingham being the earliest at 8am and Southampton the latest at 2:50pm.
- Birmingham Airport, which has relaxed the "liquids rule", says half of its more than 26,000 daily departing passengers leave before 8am, highlighting the intensity of early morning travel.
IN FULL
When’s the best time to fly? Airports reveal their calmest periods for flight departures
