Heathrow Airport said it has seen higher passenger growth than any other European airport this year, with traffic numbers in October boosted by the half-term holiday, a return of business travellers and strong recovery in the Middle East and Central Asia.
The airport, where IAG-owned British Airways holds more than half of the airline slots, promised it is “ready for the biggest Christmas in three years”, since the Covid-19 pandemic struck, saying it has worked with airlines and ground handlers to prepare for the Christmas peak and has “a good plan” that will not require any capacity cap.
However, it sounded a note of caution on potential industrial action at a number of organisations, including a national Border Force strike.
"We have come so far since Omicron grounded Christmas travel plans last year. Heathrow, our airline partners and their handlers are all working together to make sure everyone can be reunited with their loved ones this Christmas," said Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said.
Passenger numbers totalled 5.9mln in October, a rise of 93.6% on the same month last year, with traffic now at 84% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels. So far this year, 50mln passengers have passed through the airport, 279.4% more than in the January-October period last year.
“The leisure market has been buoyant thanks to the half-term getaway, with our busiest day since July, and we are also seeing the gradual return of business travellers too. Strong recovery in the Middle East and Central Asia seen in October is expected to continue into November,” a statement said.
The company said 16,000 staff have been recruited over the last 12 months, which is keeping capacity and demand in balance, adding that it is on track to get back to pre-pandemic employment levels before the peak summer holiday period in 2023.
Investments of over £4bn are planned for the next few years, which include new security lanes that allow passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their bags and a new baggage system for Terminal 2.
It also said it is proposing changes to its landing charges for 2023 in order to support more connections to the UK's regions and nations.