The association has also tipped Friday 23 December to be the busiest day for departures and Christmas Day to be the quietest.

Abta members have reported strong demand for winter sun trips to the Canary Islands, Spain, Turkey, Portugal and Egypt, as well as Jamaica, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Dubai and Mexico.

Ski resorts in France and Switzerland are the most popular choices among customers, and agents have reported strong demand in the first full winter sports season after three years of Covid-19-induced travel restrictions.  

The most sought-after overseas city break destinations this year include New York, Paris, Amsterdam and Dublin.

A predicted 640,000 passengers are set to depart from Stansted, 470,000 from Luton, 500,000 from Manchester, 175,000 from Bristol and hundreds of thousands through Gatwick.

Heathrow expects more than three million passengers, both arriving and departing, to travel through the airport in the last two weeks of December.

Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: "Christmas and New Year are always very busy times for travel and this year will be very special as millions have the first opportunity after travel restrictions have lifted to spend quality time with friends and family abroad over the festive period."