In October, Heathrow reported strong passenger growth of 4.4% as almost 7m passengers travelled through the airport, bolstered by the half-term getaway.
Heathrow marked two years of consecutive record monthly volumes for the hub airport. The increases in passenger numbers are coming from larger and fuller aircraft.
North America led the growth, up by a remarkable 9.1%, as October saw various NFL teams travel to Heathrow to play for match fixtures at Wembley stadium.
Over 150,000 metric tonnes of cargo travelled through Heathrow in October with Brazil and China showing the strongest cargo performance. Brazil’s growth was driven by BA’s additional flights to the country, while China’s cargo volumes grew following the arrival of a number of new Chinese routes, including the addition of the airport’s 11th Chinese route to Shenzhen.
October marked the first anniversary of Heathrow’s Living Wage accreditation, a significant milestone in the airport’s long-term plan for sustainable growth.
In a world first, Heathrow announced there will be free landing charges for the inaugural year of operation of the first electric-hybrid aircraft touching down on its runways.
The Government announced that, from next year, visitors from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan will be allowed to use the eGates at Heathrow for a quicker and more efficient experience at the UK border.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said, “We are proud to have been Living Wage accredited for the last 12 months and would encourage other businesses to do the same. When colleagues earn enough to support their families, they provide better customer service and this has contributed to record numbers of passengers choosing to travel through Heathrow this year.”
