UK. London Heathrow Airport served 61.6 million passengers last year, which represented a return to 76% of pre-pandemic levels. It was also a leap of 42.2 million (+217%) compared to 2021, the highest increase of any airport in Europe.
The Christmas and New Year periods fuelled passenger growth during December, with more than 5.9 million passengers travelling in the month – up +90% compared with the same time last year. Transatlantic travel was a key driver, with New York JFK the airport’s busiest route.
The airport company expressed concern that the recovery of the aviation sector could be set back by the reintroduction of testing for travellers in the UK and elsewhere in response to increasing COVID-19 levels in China. This is despite governments acknowledging that there is no scientific basis for doing so.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “2022 ended on a high with our busiest Christmas in three years and a smooth and efficient service for passengers, thanks to the hard work of our colleagues and close planning with airlines, their ground handlers and Border Force.”
As reported, Heathrow Airport is forecasting a +7.2% rise in retail revenues year-on-year in 2023 alongside a +9% increase in passenger traffic to 67.1 million. The details were revealed in Heathrow’s latest Investor Report, released last month. ✈
