A travel industry expert is urging the UK to reconsider the traditional summer school holiday schedule, suggesting it should be shortened to ease pressure on families and travel systems. Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of the Advantage Travel Partnership, argues that the current six-week summer break is outdated and no longer matches modern travel patterns. "It concentrates millions of families into the same six weeks, pushing up prices and putting huge pressure on airports, airlines, resorts and destinations," she said. She also noted that European summers are becoming hotter, making July and August more difficult for travelers. Lo Bue-Said believes it's time to rethink when families take their holidays to better suit current conditions. The Advantage Travel Partnership, in collaboration with the UK Outbound Travel Group, has proposed redistributing two weeks of the summer break across October and February half-terms. This would help spread out travel demand and reduce the intense pressure on popular summer destinations. The call comes amid new data from Advantage's 2026 end-of-summer trading update, which shows that Britons continue to travel frequently, even with rising costs, extreme heat, and possible delays at entry-exit systems. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 142 million passengers traveled through UK airports in the first half of 2026, highlighting the country's ongoing travel enthusiasm. Lo Bue-Said previously told The Independent's travel podcast that shifting school holidays would benefit children, families, teachers, and others affected by the constraints of traditional break times. However, parents in England face financial penalties if they take children out of school during term time for unauthorized reasons. The government states that all schools must consider a fine of £80 per parent, per child, if a child misses 10 or more school sessions (five days) for unapproved reasons. The debate over school holidays and their impact on travel highlights a growing need to balance family needs, travel demands, and the realities of climate change. While the travel industry seeks flexibility, the government and schools must also consider the implications of altering traditional schedules. As the UK continues to see high levels of travel, finding a compromise that eases pressure on infrastructure and supports families remains a key challenge for policymakers.