Brits 'will cut back for holidays'

British consumers are willing to miss out on luxuries in other areas of life in order to take their annual summer holiday, according to research conducted by easyJet.

The low-cost airline carried out a survey which found that 40 per cent of people have already booked their holiday for the summer and 68 per cent had no intention of giving up their annual break.

Nearly nine out of ten (88 per cent) respondents said they would forego their morning takeaway coffee to guarantee their holiday, while 72 per cent would cut back on nights out and 63 per cent would reduce their spending on clothes.

Paul Simmons, easyJet's general manager in the UK, said: "People are definitely assessing their spending habits and looking at ways to make their pennies go further in 2009.

"The survey demonstrates that people are cutting back on everyday 'luxuries' to ensure they can still fund their annual summer holiday."

The airline boosted the range of services available to British travellers this year with the recent launch of a new plane from Manchester Airport, which will operate flights to Corfu, Athens, Dalaman and Bastia.

EasyJet is also offering flights to Dubrovnik, Bordeaux and Naples using a new aircraft based at Liverpool Airport.

• British Airways staff offer to work during strike
• Paris festival to celebrate jazz
• BAA signs contract for construction of Heathrow Terminal 2
• Travellers promised value for money in Malaysia
• Bmi to launch London Heathrow to Berlin flights this month
• Whale sharks arrive in Western Australia
• Sonar festival to return to Barcelona
• Machu Picchu to reopen following floods
• Dubai tourist board promotes annual events
• Flybe to boost capacity during British Airways strike