International Travellers Flock to the UK for the Coronation Weekend

On 11 October 2022, Buckingham Palace announced that the Coronation of His Majesty the King would take place on Saturday, 6 May 2023. Nearly 70 years after the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953, this landmark event is expected to draw thousands of spectators from around the world to celebrate the new monarch. Travelport have released the below trend data highlighting the impact of the King’s Coronation on international travel into the U.K.

Searches for international flights to the U.K. within 24 hours of the announcement

• Globally, searches for international flights to the U.K. increased by 81% within 24 hours of the date of the King’s Coronation being confirmed.
• The top countries of origin searching for flights to the U.K. during the Coronation weekend within 24 hours of the date of the King’s Coronation being confirmed.

1. Ireland (up 580% in the day after announcement)
2. United Kingdom – domestic travel (up 442% in the day after announcement)
3. Italy (up 355% in the day after announcement)
4. Spain (up 349% in the day after announcement)
5. Netherlands (up 313% in the day after announcement)
6. United States (up 293% in the day after announcement)
7. Germany (up 257% in the day after announcement)
8. Switzerland (up 231% in the day after announcement)
9. Singapore (up 175% in the day after announcement)
10. Canada (up 172% in the day after announcement)

Bookings for international flights to the U.K. for the Coronation

• Bookings for U.K. bound flights for Coronation weekend increased by 149% within 24 hours of the announcement.
• While the largest volume of searches for trips to the U.K. during the Coronation weekend largely originated from Europe, the United States was the #1 country to book trips to the U.K for the first weekend of May.
• Based on flight bookings, these are the top 10 countries of origin travelling to the U.K. during the Coronation weekend:

1. United States
2. India
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. Italy
6. Nigeria
7. South Korea
8. Germany
9. Thailand
10. Spain

• Based on travel to the U.K. over the same weekend in 2022, Italy had been the #12 country of origin (vs. this year #5). South Korea (#7) was ranked 33^rd last year and Thailand (#9) was previously ranked 23^rd.