Online travel deals still up for grabs

Around £5.4 billion worth of online travel bookings still available this summer according to a new study.

The findings from a travel study, by online analyst Compete, reveal nearly half of those delaying booking this summer are waiting due to indecision about where or when to go and a further quarter are just procrastinating - although they know what they want, they have yet to get round to making a booking.

The study shows that each month over 50 million people research and plan travel trips online and 40 per cent of those questioned expect to spend more on travel this year than they did last year.

Travel is also shown to be the biggest online industry, with two thirds of travellers choosing to research their holidays on the internet, over and above other media and personal recommendations.

Gregory Saks, director of Compete's travel practice, commented: "There is still an opportunity for marketers to close the season strongly by focusing promotions on last-minute bookings.

"Marketers can have an impact if they act now with urgency messaging and price-focused offers via the internet to travellers that are still undecided about their plans or holding out for the right time to book."

The research was taken from a study of the top 25 travel-related sites and from the 1,100 survey responses completed by travellers visiting those sites.

• Ofcom reiterates support for cap on roaming charges
• Ski season off to early start in France
• Scheduled flights more punctual in third quarter
• Flights resume in Bangkok
• Flybe confirms new flights for summer 2009
• New tour route opened in Australia
• New Star Alliance lounge opened in Paris
• Wireless network opened at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport
• Emirates launches A380 on Heathrow flights
• Edinburgh whisky bars unite to promote tourism