Heathrow Airport reached busiest month of October thanks to mid-term holidays

London’s Heathrow Airport enjoyed its busiest October ever as Britons took advantage of the mid-term break to travel abroad.

More than 7.2 million people passed through the travel center last month; For the sixth consecutive month, it has attracted more than 7 million passengers and an increase of 3.7 percent compared to October 2023.

The European Union saw the largest growth in absolute numbers at Heathrow of any region, with a year-on-year increase from 190,000 to 2.5 million.

But trips to the UK saw the biggest expansion in percentage terms, rising 8.9 per cent to 393,000.

Heathrow plans to serve about 83.8 million people in 2024, which would be 2.9 million more than the record 80.9 million in 2019, the last calendar year before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Demand for air travel plunged in 2020 amid tight cross-border restrictions, then began to recover the following year when those restrictions were eased, although strikes and a prolonged slump in business travel hurt its recovery.

Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Heathrow, said: “Being home to the world’s most connected airport is a huge boost for the UK economy thanks to Heathrow’s unparalleled connections for passengers and cargo.”

“To maintain that competitive advantage, the Government must recognize the vital role of aviation in enabling and supporting other sectors in its industrial strategy.”

A fortnight ago, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced tax increases on airline tickets in her first budget as part of measures to reduce the deficit.

From 2026/27, fees for air passengers on short-haul economy flights will rise from £13 to £15, while private jet users will receive a 50 per cent increase in the fees they pay.

Trade associations representing Britain’s airports and airlines sharply criticized the move, saying it would make the UK less competitive and hamper growth.

Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, said the APD increase was “disappointing” because airports are making massive investments while “facing increasing burdens in other areas”.

Heathrow intends to invest more than £1 billion this year, including on runway resurfacing, new safety lanes and modern handling equipment.

However, Susannah Streeter, director of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the upcoming changes to the APD may not affect the level of air travel as much.

Streeter called Heathrow’s performance in October a “demonstration of how post-pandemic travel demand shows little sign of abating.”

He added: “Given this sustained demand, it seems unlikely that the Government’s increase in air passenger charges will have a hugely detrimental effect on demand at hubs such as Heathrow.”