Heathrow Airport has reported its busiest April on record, with close to 7.1 million passengers passing through the UK’s only hub airport, marking a nearly 6% increase compared to the same month last year. This milestone makes it the first time the airport has surpassed 7 million passengers in April.
The surge in passenger numbers comes alongside impressive operational performance, with Heathrow achieving the highest departure punctuality among major European hubs for the year to date. In April, 99% of checked baggage reached its destination as expected, and 97% of passengers cleared security in under five minutes, contributing to a smoother travel experience.
The Easter holiday period played a significant role in this growth, with almost 1 million passengers traveling over the bank holiday weekend. Easter Monday saw the airport’s busiest-ever arrivals day, as over 140,000 passengers touched down. Italy proved particularly popular, with record-breaking passenger numbers for cities like Florence and Venice.
The momentum has continued into May, with the Heathrow-JFK route, the world’s busiest long-haul corridor, surpassing its millionth passenger of the year in record time, reinforcing Heathrow’s position as the best-connected airport to North America.
Commenting on the record-breaking performance, Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said, “Last month showed Heathrow at its very best – we successfully navigated our busiest April ever while our service levels took a further leap forward. We’re providing great value for our passengers, and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in collaboration with our Team Heathrow partners so far this year. We’re now firmly focused on the busy summer ahead and work is underway across the airport to ensure we continue delivering for our customers.”
The airport also released a detailed traffic summary, highlighting significant regional performance in passenger and cargo volumes. Notably, passenger numbers from the Middle East grew by 14.8% in April, while the Asia-Pacific region saw a 9.9% rise, reflecting robust demand across these markets.
As the summer travel season approaches, Heathrow aims to maintain this upward momentum, supported by its extensive network of international connections and a strong focus on operational excellence.
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