Member Article

Passenger numbers up again as Heathrow named 'best European airport'

Heathrow Airport has announced that the number of passengers using the airport was up again in the first half of the year after its quality standards were recognised by a major industry body.

According to the airport’s six month results up to 30 June, the South East transport hub saw 35.7m people pass through its doors, which is a slight 0.6% rise on the 35.5m from the same period last year.

Revenue also saw a modest 1% increase to £1.32bn along with an 8.7% increase in pretax profit which was up to £75m, defying any potential Brexit blues.

Heathrow also announced that it had been named the ‘Best Major Airport’ by ACI Europe, the professional association of airport operators, after achieving a record Airport Service Quality score of 4.16, making it three years on the trot that the airport has scooped the award.

Commenting on today’s results, Chief Executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: “Heathrow has been named the best major airport in Europe for the third time and I am very proud of the work our colleagues do every day while giving better value to passengers.

“As the UK’s biggest port, we are supporting businesses from every corner of Britain to get their products to global markets, with cargo volumes up by almost 2%.”

Of course, the airport is currently in the midst of a major lobbying campaign in an attempt to get a proposed third runway greenlit at the airport, over an additional runway at rival airport Gatwick.

Holland-Kaye jumped on today’s figures as more reason for the airport to be awarded the major works projects when he added: “Now Britain needs a positive post-Brexit plan and only Heathrow expansion will help Britain to be one of the world’s leading trading nations – connecting all of Britain to global growth.

“Heathrow has a new plan for expansion, allowing the Prime Minister to make the right choice in the national interest.”

The airport released some early designs this week revealing what an expanded Heathrow might look like.