UK. In a strong signal of recovery for UK aviation, Heathrow Airport served nearly six million passengers in June, over +500% more than in the same month last year. Heathrow said that the “unprecedented growth over the last four months matches what took place over the last 40 years”.
The airport company noted that rebuilding capacity quickly “is very challenging after the significant reductions in resource across the entire aviation supply chain”. It added: “Arrivals punctuality is very low as a result of delays at other airports and airspace congestion across Europe and this has compounded the challenge of resource constraints for the airport, airlines, ground handlers and government agencies.”
By the end of July Heathrow will have as many people working in security as it had pre-pandemic. It also reopened Terminal 4 recently, which helps alleviate space constraints. It admitted that “despite our best efforts there have been periods in recent weeks where service levels have not been acceptable, with long queue times, delays for passengers with reduced mobility, bags not travelling with passengers or arriving late”.
In June, the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority asked the aviation sector to review summer schedules, including implementing a slot amnesty to encourage airlines to remove flights without penalty.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “Last month, we saw exponential growth in passenger numbers as nearly six million people got away – the equivalent of 40 years of growth in just four months. I am very proud of the way that our team is rising to the challenge of growth, and giving excellent service to the vast majority of passengers. However, we have already seen times recently when demand exceeds the capacity of the airport, airlines and ground handlers.
“We will review the schedule changes that airlines have submitted in response to the government’s requirement to minimise disruption for passengers this summer and will ask them to take further action if necessary. We want everyone who is travelling through Heathrow to be confident that they will have a safe and reliable journey.”
