Heathrow Airport enjoyed its busiest-ever year in 2024, after a record December confirmed passenger numbers had exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
Some 38.9 million passengers departed from the airport over the year, marking an increase of three million on the previous record in 2019.
Demand for Christmas and New Year getaways also pushed passenger numbers above the seven million mark in December, Heathrow added in a statement.
Christmas Day itself also saw a record 160,000 departures, reflecting another record, while 2025 was said to have got off well.
“With grey Mondays encouraging holiday bookings, 2025 is off to a strong start,” Heathrow said, forecasting 84.2 million passengers would pass through the airport over the year.
Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Susannah Streeter noted the forecast, despite paving the way for another record, pointed to slowing growth, however.
“With consumer-focused firms, especially in retail, forecasting uncertain times ahead, pessimism appears to be seeping into the travel industry too,” she said.
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LSE:IAG), which owns Heathrow's largest operator British Airways, fell by 3.6% on Monday, as growing oil prices also weighed.