GM Rides has warned that road closures could disrupt journeys to six UK airports this October: Heathrow, Birmingham, Gatwick, Manchester, Luton and Belfast International.
Passengers should check both outward and return routes, as overnight motorway closures, diversions and access-road works may affect travel at different times of day.
Among the most significant restrictions are planned HS2 works near Birmingham. These are due to close sections of the M42 and connecting routes from 9pm on Friday 23 October to 5am on Monday 26 October, including northbound closures from junctions 6 to 9 and southbound closures from junctions 9 to 7, alongside restrictions on the M6 and M6 Toll.
Travellers heading to Heathrow also face disruption on the M25. National Highways has scheduled closures on the anticlockwise carriageway at junction 15, between the M4 slip roads, from 8pm on 17 October to 10am on 18 October and again from 8pm on 24 October to 10am on 25 October for preparatory bridge works.
Roads around Heathrow are expected to be busiest between 8am and midday on the affected Sundays, and delays could continue after the road reopens. Clockwise traffic and M4 connecting links are due to remain open.
At Gatwick, the disruption is more localised but could still affect access. Lighting works are affecting the A23 London Road and Airport Way slip roads. The Airport Way eastbound entry slip from London Road is closed overnight until 9 October from 9pm to 4am, while the London Road westbound exit slip is due to close overnight from 12 October to 13 November during the same hours.
Passengers using Manchester Airport may encounter restrictions linked to works at Thelwall Viaduct. A 40mph contraflow around M6 junctions 20 and 21 begins on 12 October, while the first phase also limits northbound traffic to one lane overnight from 10pm to 5am.
Those lane restrictions are expected to continue until spring 2027. The route is relevant for some airport journeys connecting with the M56, so travellers should check both directions of travel.
London Luton passengers face a separate set of motorway closures. Airport notices list M1 northbound closures between junctions 6 and 8, along with southbound closures between junctions 9 and 8. The northbound schedule runs until 5am on 8 October, while the southbound weeknight programme continues until 5am on 9 October before a further period from 12 October to 5 November starting at 10pm.
The southbound closures may be especially important for travellers returning towards London after landing. Passengers should confirm the reopening time for the specific night of travel.
Belfast International is also affected by roadworks. Ballyrobin Road is due to be resurfaced between Killead Roundabout and Airport Roundabout, with overnight closures from 7pm to 6am on 5 to 9, 12 to 16 and 19 to 23 October, followed by daytime lane restrictions from 9.30am to 4.30pm on 26 to 30 October.
Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure has advised airport passengers to allow extra journey time. Drivers approaching from Killead Roundabout are due to follow a signed diversion.
Timing matters
Majid Ismailzada, Marketing Director at GM Rides, said: "An early flight can mean travelling while overnight road closures are still in place. A route that normally takes 40 minutes may involve a diversion at the exact time you need to use it. Check the roads you will actually be travelling on, including the direction, junction and closure hours. Your departure time from home matters just as much as the date on your flight booking."
One issue often missed by passengers is that road authorities usually list overnight closures by the date they begin. That means an early-morning journey may be affected by restrictions that started the previous evening.
National Highways advises travellers leaving in the early hours to check the schedule for the night before. In practice, a passenger travelling at 4am on a Saturday may need to review Friday's closure notices rather than Saturday's.
Ismailzada added: "Work backwards from when you need to be inside the terminal, allowing for parking, shuttle transfers and your airline's check-in requirements. Then factor in any diversion on the road journey. If you are booking a transfer, give the operator your flight details and confirm the collection time against the planned roadworks. If you are driving yourself, use the correct terminal or car park entrance as your destination. Check your return journey too. A road can be open when you leave for your holiday and closed when you land a week later."