UK. London Heathrow Airport served just over 7.1 million passengers in May, down by -1.2% year-on-year. A -31.1% slide in volumes to and from the Middle East weighed on the overall figures, despite increases in passenger traffic on Africa, Asia Pacific and EU routes.
Heathrow recorded its busiest ever day in the month with 262,000 passengers on 22 May.
The airport also marked its 80th anniversary last month. The airport company noted that since its first commercial flight in May 1946, Heathrow has connected nearly 3 billion passengers across 22 million flights, and become the world’s most connected hub.
Investment in infrastructure is continuing, with an upgrade of T4 car parks and check-in facilities beginning, the opening of new accessibility services such as an improved assistance area in T2 and trialling autonomous wheelchairs in T3 – a UK airport first.
In a statement, Heathrow Airport warned that Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) proposals that prevent it raising landing fees to fund its next wave of infrastructure investment “risk taking the UK backwards and weakening our competitiveness”.
CEO Thomas Woldbye said, “Heathrow has kept Britain connected for 80 years – but today we’re operating at capacity. Demand for travel and trade is strong, and passengers want more choice, better connections and good value. But both short and long-term growth of the UK’s only hub airport is at risk if the CAA delay necessary investment.
“With the Government focused on growth, our privately funded, proven, deliverable plans are ready, and the only ones that can unlock new capacity and long-term benefits for passengers and the UK.” ✈
