Worldpay, Inc. (NYSE: WP; LSE: WPY), a global leader in payments, is predicting a rise in online bookings for airlines and travel agents in the UK in the build-up to this year’s Easter holiday period.

Analysis of spending in the three weeks leading up to 2018’s Easter Sunday found that online travel bookings rose by 35 percent compared to the previous year[1]. This trend could be set to continue for both airlines and online travel agents in the coming weeks, as Brits look to get away over the long weekend.

According to Worldpay, UK travellers are booking tickets with airlines around three weeks in advance. Data shows that booking volumes slow by six percent in the week leading up to the Easter bank holiday weekend when compared to the previous two weeks, indicating travellers’ preference for planning rather than trying their luck with last-minute bargains.

Worldpay data revealed that the volume of airline bookings increased by 40 percent last year, as budget conscious travellers made the most of increased competition[2] by building their own DIY Easter holiday, with the average booking cost falling by 12 percent year-over-year.

Online travel agents also saw similar increases ahead of the Easter period with booking volumes rising by 37 percent, and the average value of bookings jumping by 25 percent year-over-year. This could indicate a growing trend for travellers turning to online travel agents to book complete package experiences over designing their own trips.

Commenting on the data, Thomas Helldorff, Vice President for Airlines & Travel, Global Enterprise eCommerce at Worldpay said:

“The travel industry has seen a real shift in how holidaymakers research and book their holidays. Mobile is the fastest growing commerce channel in the UK[3], as travellers use smartphones to browse prices, book holidays and ancillary services throughout their trip.

“If travel operators want to stay ahead of the curve, they must optimize the booking experience, embedding seamless and secure payments across all major channels – making it even easier for their customers to book and pay wherever they are.”