Heathrow Airport saw a record 39.8 million passengers in the first half of this year, marking a strong recovery from the pandemic. On June 30, the airport experienced its busiest day ever, with over 268,000 travellers on more than 1,300 flights.
This impressive passenger volume surpasses the pre-pandemic figure of 38.8 million recorded in the first half of 2019. Despite this, revenues for the six-month period decreased by 2.9 per cent to £1.69 billion, and adjusted earnings fell by 11.1 per cent to £951 million. However, pre-tax profit increased by 15.8 per cent to £323 million, with adjusted pre-tax profit swinging from a loss of £139 million to a profit of £178 million.
Growth was driven by high load factors and the use of larger aircraft, with destinations in Asia and the Middle East seeing doubled demand. To accommodate the anticipated record number of passengers this summer, Heathrow has ramped up its workforce to 90,000 employees, aiming to improve punctuality and security efficiency. The airport reported that 95 per cent of passengers passed through security within five minutes, and punctuality reached 72.8 per cent in the first half of the year.
Despite these achievements, revenues from flights, including landing fees, parking charges, and security fees, fell by nearly 8 per cent due to the Civil Aviation Authority’s H7 settlement. This settlement sets an annual cap on passenger charges and regulates Heathrow’s operations from 2022 onward. The airport is working to address a £400 million shortfall from this settlement through operational efficiencies and new initiatives without compromising passenger experience or safety.
Heathrow’s six strategic “beacons” aim to create a “winning team” focused on a “digital future” and “creating capacity” to enhance customer value. Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow’s CEO, praised the dedication of his team in managing record passenger numbers while maintaining high customer service standards.
In addition to passenger traffic, Heathrow handled 765 tonnes of cargo in the first half of the year, supporting British industries’ access to global markets. Woldbye emphasised the importance of Heathrow’s role in driving economic benefits across the UK and called for coordinated policy-making to enhance global competitiveness and sustainable growth.
Woldbye also highlighted the need for Heathrow to become the preferred European hub airport, noting that bureaucratic tax and border policies are currently pushing passengers to rival hubs in Europe. He stressed the importance of addressing these competitive drags to maintain Heathrow’s leading position.