While motoring organisations anticipate a relatively jam-free holiday weekend, airlines are expecting lengthy waits at passport control due to a shortage of Border Agency staff to carry out the rigorous passport checks demanded by the Home Office.
British Airways and Virgin Airlines are among 11 companies that have written to the home secretary, Theresa May, to demand action to combat delays, claiming there is a "mismatch between policy and resource".
A Virgin spokesman said a full check would undoubtedly mean lengthy queues at airports.
More than 370,000 passengers will leave Heathrow between Good Friday and Easter Monday, while 200,000 will pass through Gatwick. Threatened strike action by baggage handlers at Stansted has been called off.
Those staying at home may have to negotiate closures and delays on the road and rail networks, although the Highways Agency said many works would be completed by Thursday night or suspended for the long weekend. Unseasonal wintry weather closed the A66 trans-Pennine route and some roads as far south as Cheshire on Tuesday, with freezing temperatures forecast again in the north expected to make conditions treacherous for drivers on higher ground.
The Association of Train Operating Companies and Network Rail expect to carry seven million passengers over the Easter weekend. Engineering works will cause some disruption, with services to London mainline stations Euston, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, and Waterloo among those affected. However, rail operators said there will be 34% fewer replacement buses for cancelled trains this Easter compared with last year.
On the roads, stretches of the M1, M25, M4 and the M62 will be affected by works. The RAC said it believes high fuel costs – with some stations reportedly selling petrol at up to 30p more than the 141.8p a litre average pump price – may deter motorists, although the AA said up to 54% of its members surveyed were likely to drive somewhere this Easter. The RAC predicts other potential motorway hot spots on the M20 coast-bound in Kent, the M40 in Warwickshire, M4 westbound into Wales, and M55 towards Blackpool.
Traffic information company Inrix has identified roads heading for the West Country as most likely to cause headaches for motorists, with traffic building to a peak on Good Friday afternoon. Drivers on the M1 around Luton in Bedfordshire also expected to face holdups.
More broadly, the Highways Agency believes Thursday evening and Easter Monday afternoon are likely to be the busiest over the bank holiday weekend as people set out and return from short breaks.
Transport company National Express said Thursday would be the busiest day for coach travel.
Travel agents' organisation Abta said Spain would be the top destination for the 1.5 million people heading abroad for Easter, with Cyprus and Tunisia also selling well. Top city breaks are Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Rome and New York, with optimistic skiers heading for Geneva for late season snow.
