Heathrow Airport welcomes record 80.1 million passengers as revenues climb 3%

Heathrow Airport achieved a milestone year in 2018 as new figures reveal that 80.1 million passengers moved through its terminals.

Delivering the airport’s eighth consecutive year of passenger growth and the highest in its history, the number represents an uptick of 2.7% on the 78 million passengers welcomed in 2017.

Heathrow generated an EBITDA of £1.95bn, up from £1.9bn the year previous, against an annual revenue of £2.97bn, which increased year on year by 3% from £2.88bn.

The airport also added a number of routes in 2018, doubling its Chinese connections with the addition of six new cities – among them, Europe’s only flights to Shenzhen.

Its lineup of domestic connections is also growing. From this April, following the launch of a service to Newquay, Heathrow will be offering nine domestic routes.

CEO John Holland-Kaye said of the results: “2018 was the best ever year at Heathrow. I am very proud of the outstanding work of 76,000 colleagues across the airport, who are delivering for Britain.”

Heathrow’s masterplan to expand with a third runway is continuing to take shape. Following the parliamentary greenlight last summer, the airport is preparing to release detailed plans for further consultation this June.

A planning application will be submitted in 2020, with the first flights expected to depart from the new runway in 2026.