Petrol prices drive trade into airports

With the new year came millions and millions of new year resolutions (most of
which are probably already starting to get broken), England retaining the Ashes in
Australia, January sales at the shops, VAT going back up to 20% and also the
price increase in fuel.

So, was it something normal like quitting smoking, or going on a diet, or spending
more time with your family, or something a bit different which you vowed to change
in 2011? Surprisingly, around 71% of people are still sticking to their resolution 2
weeks into the new year, but unfortunately so are the powers that set the prices for
petrol and diesel.

Motorists' pockets are going to be hit even harder this year, with most petrol
retailers predicting the cost to fill up a regular tank will be £70. The average price
per litre of petrol is now at £1.28, while this time last year it was £1.10 per litre and
11 years ago in 2000 it was just £0.82; which is a huge difference - just over 45p
per litre.

No wonder people are now using other means of transport and having to think a
little bit harder as to whether all their journeys in their car are necessary. The price
could get even higher when the Chancellor makes his changes to the budget in
April - going up by another 8p to £1.36 per litre of petrol.

This has directly affected the people who travel over 200 miles on a regular basis
within the UK. In many cases it is now just as cheap (and just as flexible and
convenient) to get an internal flight within the UK as it is to drive. This has resulted
in people now being much more likely to drive themselves to the airport, use an
Airport Parking comparison site and fly instead of drive.