Heathrow Airport has closed 2025 on a historic high, recording its busiest year ever and reinforcing its status as one of the world’s most important transport hubs.
More than 84 million passengers travelled through the airport during the year—the first time Heathrow has passed this milestone—with December 2025 becoming the busiest December on record. Nearly 7.2 million people passed through the terminals during the festive month alone, underlining the continued strength of global travel demand.
The summer peak also delivered a landmark moment, with 1 August 2025 becoming Heathrow’s busiest day ever, handling more than 270,000 passengers in a single day. Overall, passenger numbers exceeded those of 2024 in nine out of twelve months, helping the airport maintain its position as the world’s most connected hub airport.
Operational performance also showed notable improvements. Heathrow retained its title as Europe’s most punctual hub airport in December, with over 97% of passengers passing through security in under five minutes. Baggage handling reliability improved significantly as well, achieving a 98% load rate across the year—equivalent to an additional 250,000 bags arriving on their intended flights compared to 2024.
Cargo traffic also hit new benchmarks. In December alone, Heathrow processed 138,000 tonnes of freight, with three individual days—the 6th, 14th and 20th—setting the airport’s highest cargo-handling records for 2025. Across the year, total freight volumes increased by 12,600 tonnes, further cementing Heathrow’s position as the UK’s largest port by value, moving everything from consumer goods to vital mail and medical supplies.
Passengers also made the most of the festive retail offering, with World Duty Free recording a sale every 5.5 seconds during the December rush.
Looking ahead, Heathrow is preparing for another demanding year in 2026, with plans to invest more than £1.3 billion to further improve customer experience, infrastructure, and service reliability.
Heathrow Chief Executive Thomas Woldbye said the figures reflect both sustained demand and improving service standards.
“December’s record-breaking performance shows the strength of demand for Heathrow and the benefit to passengers of the great service our colleagues are providing,” he said. “No hub airport in Europe was more punctual than Heathrow last year, and we’re determined to build on that success in 2026.”
He added that future growth will depend on the right conditions. “With government support for our expansion plans and a regulatory framework that enables private investment, Heathrow can unlock even greater connectivity, trade, and economic growth for the UK.”
The latest figures underline Heathrow’s dual role as both the country’s primary international gateway and a critical engine of trade, tourism, and economic activity—one that is set to face even greater demand in the years ahead.
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