After a record-breaking month of May, which saw 7.2 million passengers, another record was broken at the largest airport in the London area – between 1 June 2023 and 31 May 2024, 81.5 million passengers travelled through Heathrow Airport, 9.9 million more compared to the previous year.
“We have a winning team at Heathrow which has proven that we have put Covid firmly behind us”, said Thomas Woldbye, the airport’s chief executive. “Thanks to their extraordinary efforts we are now giving record numbers of people the chance to connect smoothly with the world. Supporting 81 million journeys doesn’t just help families to make wonderful holiday memories, importantly it is about the vital trade and business links a hub like Heathrow creates for the UK’s economy.”
Travel has a way of making the world a much smaller place, and for many, that journey starts at #Heathrow. ✈️
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) May 24, 2024
Whether it's going somewhere new, reconnecting with loved ones, or making new friends, we’d love to hear how travel has made your world seem smaller. 🌎 pic.twitter.com/cFTnG3VS7P
Even though there have been more passengers to destinations around the world, some have done better than others over the last 12 months. Destinations within the United Kingdom saw a 17% increase, a surge that can be explained, at least partially, by prime minister Rishi Sunak’s widely criticised decision to halve Air Passenger Duty (APD) on domestic flights, an incentive for passengers to move from rail to air.
Meanwhile, flights to the European Union increased by 11.1%. North America was popular as well, coming in at an 11.7% increase. The biggest surge in air traffic, however, was seen between Heathrow Airport and destinations in Asia and the Pacific region, going up by 36.6% compared to the year before.
Looking at the future, Heathrow is expecting even more growth. According to the airport, 30 million passengers are expected to travel through it this summer, while the passenger forecast for 2024 is now set at 82.4 million.
