Air fares in the UK rose by the highest amount of record last year, squeezing the price of a trip abroad.
Ticket prices rose by 44.1% last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.
That is the largest rise since records began being compiled in 1989, and comes after a warning about the likely rising cost of aviation in the months ahead.
Yesterday the boss of Ryanair, the biggest airline in Europe, said that fares would continue rising in 2023 by "high single digits" percentages.
Michael O'Leary warned that prices on the airline would rise as the summer months neared, with the £9.99 fares Ryanair is known for unlikely to return for several years.
Have you been put off going on holiday because of the cost of flying? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Despite the higher prices, company's like Ryanair are currently enjoying strong sales, with the frim receiving 2.03 million flight bookings last weekend, beating its previous weekend's record-breaking sales.
Those looking to avoid flying - which is more polluting than going by rail or road - don't have many better options.
Partly due to rail strikes which have been rumbling on for more than a year now, the cost of coach tickets has also increased.
The price of coach travel rose by 17.5% in December compared to the same month in the previous year.
Sebastien Texier, travel expert at Hopper, offered some advice to people who are feeling the squeeze but still want to get away.
He said: “Holidays are going nowhere in 2023, with people wanting to book big bucket list trips to make up for lost time – even as the cost-of-living crisis bites.
"But as the price of flights soar to record levels, it’s more important than ever for eager holiday makers to book smart.
“The trick to getting the best deal is knowing when to book, as dynamic pricing means flights and even hotels will change in price in the run up to your travel date.
"Some apps and websites let you set price alerts for the destinations and dates you’re looking to jet off to so you’ll always know when holidays are at their cheapest for your dates.
"Certain apps will also let you freeze prices for a small charge, giving you more time to finalise your plans without missing out on a great deal.
"Make sure to check the terms of how long you are freezing for so you don’t miss out altogether.”
Sebastian said that being flexible with holiday dates can help you bag a bargain.
"Hopper’s data reveals that for Amsterdam, New York and Paris it’s cheapest to travel in March but book in January - saving you up to 55% - whilst the cheapest time to fly to Bangkok is May," he added.
"Checking the dates for your destination with a travel app could save you hundreds of pounds.”
