The latest trading updates from airlines and holiday companies in recent weeks provide much brightness amid the gloomy UK backdrop - not just the weather of what Jet2 described as the “rainy isle” but more importantly the British economy’s woes.

It is not, of course, the first time that a raft of announcements from this sector has provided cheer in recent times.

After all, it has been this way ever since the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic got under way in earnest.

British Airways owner IAG’s analysis of the demand trends, when it announced full-year results last Friday, was interesting.

IAG highlighted a continuing prioritisation of travel over buying goods by many households. It also observed that business travel was not expected to “fully recover” to pre-pandemic levels particularly for short duration and short-haul trips.

Of course, the pandemic highlighted how people can use video technology to hold business meetings. That said, it is very easy indeed to agree with the argument that it is just not the same, and that important business matters are best dealt with face to face, in terms of establishing and building relationships or straightening out difficulties, or whatever.

Peter Duthie, former chief executive of the Scottish Event Campus, put it well in a recent interview with The Herald when he declared: “One thing Covid did teach us is the importance of face-to-face [meetings]. People are social creatures. They benefit massively from engaging socially.”

Returning to IAG, this group, which owns Iberia and Aer Lingus as well as British Airways, declared: “We have seen ongoing strong demand for travel throughout 2024 and now into 2025, particularly across our core........

© Herald Scotland