Soaring demand and a shortage of flights over the May school half-term holiday have led to a dramatic increase in air fares, according to a report in the Telegraph.

It claimed the holiday will be ‘the most expensive half-term ever’ after finding flights to Malaga on sale for £1,000.

The report claimed that most flights to the popular Spanish gateway from London and Manchester on 28 May at the start of the school holiday now cost more than £500 return.

The cheapest, it said, is on sale with easyJet for £355, but this means flying either very early in the morning or landing late at night.

The Telegraph claimed flights at more civilised times have ‘soared to previously unheard of levels’. It quoted a British Airways’ fare from London Heathrow to Malaga on 28 May for £1,038 return, including a checked in bag. EasyJet has an even more expensive fare of £1,054 from London Gatwick.

Air fares are similar on most routes to the Med over the May half-term holiday, said the report.

And some package holiday prices over the May half-term are even higher than during the summer peak, according to the Telegraph. It says TUI is charging £5,390 for an all-inclusive holiday to Majorca family of four in May but only £4,965 for a week from 23 August.

Why are prices for May half-term so high?

Families are evidently keen to get away on their first beach holiday since the start of the pandemic and since the May half-term holiday falls at the end of the month this year, when temperatures will be warmer, it’s more appealing than in previous years.

Demand has also been increased by the double bank holiday to mark the Queen’s jubilee, which means holidaymakers will only have to take three days off work for a nine-day break.