 Just over a fifth of all terminal passengers are travelling on domestic routes only , whilst half are travelling between the UK and the rest of the European Union ( EU ) . Of the latter , travel between the UK and Spain , France , Germany and Italy account for around half , with Spain almost matching the other three combined in terms of passenger numbers . Outside of the EU , the USA , the Far East , Switzerland and the Middle East together account for just over half of all passengers flying between the UK and the rest of the world , with the USA exceeding the other three combined in terms of passenger numbers . Air travel is the most popular mode of transport for visitors both to and from the UK . In 2005 it was used for 80 per cent of all visits by UK residents travelling overseas and by 74 per cent of all inbound visits . Just over a quarter of all passengers are travelling on business . The advent of no @-@ frills carriers has had a significant effect on passenger travel profiles , with strong growth in business travel from regional airports , and increasing inbound traffic generated for the purposes of non @-@ UK residents visiting friends and relatives based in the UK . Whilst these carriers have been perceived to democratise air travel , providing the opportunity for lower income groups to travel more often , the main result is actually that middle and higher income groups travel more often , and often for shorter trips . Researchers have been raising concern about the globally increasing hypermobility of individuals , involving frequent and often long distance air travel and the resulting environmental and climate impacts . 
