As the Easter getaway begins, travellers across the UK are being urged to prepare for widespread disruption affecting flights, trains, roads and ferries. With millions expected to travel over the bank holiday period, industry leaders warn of long queues, engineering works and heavy congestion across key routes.
Air travel: long queues expected at European borders
Passengers flying from the UK to Europe are being warned to expect delays of two hours or more at border control. The disruption is linked to ongoing issues with the European Union’s Entry-Exit System (EES), which is still being rolled out across Schengen countries.
Aviation bodies including ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe have raised concerns about increased waiting times at airports.
They warn that:
- Border control staff shortages remain a persistent issue
- Technical faults are affecting self-service kiosks
- The central IT system underpinning EES may not be fully reliable
Despite mitigation measures, queues of up to two hours are now common at peak times, with some airports reporting even longer delays.
Further disruption is expected for passengers travelling to Spain, where strike action by ground staff is planned at major airports including Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga.
Meanwhile, long-haul travel remains affected by reduced capacity on routes via the Middle East, with airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways operating below normal levels.
Rail travel: major engineering works and closures
Rail passengers face significant disruption over Easter, particularly on the West Coast Main Line — one of Britain’s busiest rail corridors.
West Coast Main Line shutdown
A major six-day closure begins on Good Friday (3 April), affecting the route between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central.
During this period:
- Services will start and terminate at Milton Keynes
- Replacement buses will connect passengers to Bedford
- Alternative routes via London St Pancras International will be in operation
Journeys that typically take around three hours — such as London to Cumbria — could extend to seven hours with multiple changes.
Additional disruption is expected across northern England and Scotland, including closures between Preston, Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Other affected routes
- London to Southampton: buses replace trains between Winchester and Southampton
- London to Devon and Cornwall: diversions via Bristol will add around 30 minutes
- Heathrow connections: reduced services on Easter Sunday
- Kent and East Sussex: multiple line closures with replacement buses
- Cambridge to King’s Lynn: journeys could take three times longer
Rail operators including Network Rail advise passengers to check routes in advance and allow extra time.
Road travel: busiest Easter since 2022
Motoring organisations predict that Easter 2026 will be the busiest on UK roads since travel rebounded after the pandemic.
The RAC warns of significant congestion, particularly on key motorways such as the M25, M5 and M40.
Key congestion periods
- Maundy Thursday (2 April): expected to be the busiest day overall
- Good Friday: heavy traffic between 10am and 7pm
- Easter Saturday: peak travel between 10am and midday
- Easter Monday: long delays as holidaymakers return home
Notable hotspots include:
- M25 near Heathrow and the M1 junction
- M5 southbound towards the South West
- Prince of Wales Bridge between England and Wales
Despite rising fuel prices — with diesel costs up around £19 per tank compared to last year — most motorists are not scaling back their travel plans.
Ferries and Eurotunnel: pressure on Dover crossings
Ports in Kent are preparing for heavy traffic, particularly at Port of Dover and Eurotunnel services from Folkestone.
The busiest period is expected on Good Friday morning, especially between 5am and 2pm, with outbound holiday traffic at its peak.
To manage congestion, “Operation Brock” will be implemented on the M20, separating freight traffic heading to Dover.
Travellers are advised to:
- Arrive no more than two hours before departure
- Have passports ready for French border checks
- Stick to designated routes to avoid local congestion
Conclusion
Easter 2026 is shaping up to be one of the busiest and most challenging travel periods in recent years across the UK. From airport delays linked to new EU border systems to extensive rail engineering works and heavy road congestion, travellers are urged to plan ahead, allow extra time and remain flexible.
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