According to the low-cost airline, holidays topped the list of most important things people planned to spend on in 2023, with two-thirds (66 percent) saying this was the most important.

70 percent of people surveyed agreed that they will prioritise a holiday over other expenditure in their yearly budget and three quarters said it was one of their most important plans for next year. To prioritise their holiday, people will be cutting back on other discretionary spending like eating out (46 percent) or new clothes (40 percent) and on big purchases such as new cars or home improvements (33 percent).

Consumers are also looking at the way they travel to prioritise a holiday, with two-thirds of people saying they are more likely to book with a low-cost carrier (66 percent), while three-quarters of people are more likely to fly short haul instead long haul (74 percent) and holiday in closer to home destinations in Europe (70 percent), in order to protect their holidays. The majority (80 percent) also believed that holidaying in the UK can be more expensive than abroad.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, almost all surveyed (94 percent) agreed that going away on holiday is one of the most enjoyable experiences. 86 percent said having a holiday is a priority for them, with 57 percent saying this is because of the quality time it allows them to spend with friends and family and the opportunity it provides to recharge (48 percent), while the significant majority of people (83 percent) said holidays are crucial to their emotional wellbeing.

Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO commented: “Travel is one of life’s greatest pleasures and we know that holidays are important to people. Not only does travelling connect friends and family but it offers a wealth of benefits, from promoting well-being to experiencing new cultures.

“This survey goes to show just what a priority it is for people, with so many determined to protect their holidays. With our low fares and unrivalled European network easyJet is ideally placed to offer a fantastic value and great quality holiday that people don’t have to compromise on. It is fantastic to see that so many consumers plan to travel next year already, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard.”