Optimistic reports Heathrow Airport of a dramatic increase in travel demand bode well for British Airways, with the London hub also predicting peak days in the summer would be back "close to 2019 levels".
Travel numbers increased to 4.2mln in March as outbound leisure travel drove recovery following a slow start in January and February. Business travel and inbound travel, however, remain weak.
Heathrow currently plans to hire 12,000 new workers across its business to accommodate the influx, similar to other UK airports that are struggling to replace staff laid off during the pandemic.
"The aviation sector has been rebuilding capacity ahead of a summer peak, so resources are stretched. Heathrow is working closely with airlines and ground handlers to make sure this increase in demand can be met while keeping passengers safe," the airport said.
The numbers for March represent an eight-fold increase over the same period last year. Before the onset of the pandemic, in February 2020 5.4mln people used Britain's biggest airport.
In the coming months, March's 4.2mln passengers may well be exceeded by the summer peak, with airport bosses predicting "peak days close to 2019 levels".
The requirement for testing and Covid checks at about half of global airports is creating congestion, Heathrow officials told media, which is exacerbated by the fact that aviation sector has only just been rebuilding.
London's transport hub also said the current surge of holiday demand may not be sustained due to concerns about new variants, high fuel prices and an increase in the price of living.
International Consolidated Airlines Group's (LSE:IAG) British Airways uses Heathrow as a primary hub of operations, with close to at 4,900 close, just over half the total.