Leisure director Kelly Cookes said bookings by its managed service agents rose 60% between 6-13 July compared to the previous week and of the total passengers booked last week, 37% were for 2020 departures compared to 27% a fortnight ago.

“This demonstrates that after a long period of being in lockdown, there is a desire to travel overseas this year,” she said.

Of the total sales made last week for departure dates in 2020, 39% were for the school summer holidays, highlighting how families were “particularly eager to get away sooner rather than later, even at such short notice,” Cookes added.

For 2021, the average sales value on all new bookings was £810pp compared to £548pp for 2020 departures. 

Cookes said although the 2020 figure “isn’t entirely unexpected”, as late bookings are often cheaper, Advantage had seen prices for departures this year drop over the past fortnight – down from £626pp – in an effort by operators "to stimulate the market".

The previous week was “by far the best we have seen in recent months”, Cookes described, with an increase of 226% on Saturday (11 July) and Sunday (12 July) compared to the previous weekend.

Spain is “dominating” in volume of sales made and accounting for seven of the consortium’s 10 most-sold regions.