The Travel Expert: Airline passengers are about to enter a winter wonderland

British airport departure screens are starting to look “patchy” as half-term and October end, with some Mediterranean routes—such as services to Greek islands and Spanish costas—disappearing until next spring. Higher fuel costs mean airlines are keeping more aircraft grounded this winter rather than flying at a loss. Still, carriers continue shifting routes ahead of Christmas, the most profitable winter period for them, aside from ski flights and Canary links during February half-term. The article highlights possible changes for British Airways users at Heathrow, with moves from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3, and notes European route shifts that include Lyon, Naples (except in November), Palma, Palermo, Salzburg and Tirana, plus transatlantic routes to Austin, Baltimore-Washington and Vancouver. It also points to new Wizz Air service from London Luton to Granada (Tuesdays and Saturdays) and added Christmas-market connections like Strasbourg.