Britain’s largest airport Heathrow has marked a solid start to the year as passenger numbers edge closer to pre-pandemic levels.
Around 5.5mln passengers flew from Heathrow in January, a rise of 111% on last year’s 2.6mln, and just 10% shy of the 6.1mln seen in 2020, before the pandemic brought the aviation industry to a standstill.
Heathrow added waiting times were also almost back to pre-covid levels in spite of strikes and ground crew shortages last year, which led to the airport capping flight numbers.
"Heathrow is back to its best,” said chief executive John Holland-Kaye, who recently announced his resignation after a bruising row with airlines over landing charges and widespread criticism of the airport’s performance as the pandemic eased.
Holland-Kaye also played down the impact of recent strike action by Border Force staff, suggesting the action had been “successfully managed” so far.
Ahead of further strikes during this half-term week, automatic e-gates would be made available for children, it added, to stem disruption.
Looking forward, the airport suggested the resumption of ticket sales to China by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic was “welcome,” with the country’s emergence from covid lockdowns “reopening a key market for British exports once more”.