Perhaps from Amsterdam this could be the case, but my personal experience is that there is no great increase in prices. For example, few days back I booked flights from our home airport of ABZ to one of our favourite weekend break locations in Barcelona and also in Porto for beginning of next year. The cost of these flights (132 GBP to Barca and 138 GBP to Porto) are as cheap as I have ever paid including when going to BCN for football in 2007. Also got return flights to SFO from INV in September for a grand total of 360 GBP return.

As always with fares, the key is being flexible and being able to fly on days/times that are not going to be too busy.