If you’re flying into Britain for the holidays, you’ll be in good company. Heathrow has announced it’s preparing for its busiest December and Christmas Day on record, following a November that saw 6.6 million passengers pass through Europe’s largest airport.
The good news? Despite the crowds, Heathrow has been running remarkably smoothly. The airport reports that 96% of passengers are waiting less than five minutes at security, and 96% have rated their experience as good or excellent this year. That’s reassuring news for anyone with visions of endless queues dancing in their heads.
Festive Touches Throughout the Terminals
Heathrow is leaning into the Christmas spirit this year. All terminals are decked out with trees, wreaths, fairy lights, and icicles, with carol singers called The Jingle Belles performing throughout December.
In a fun twist, England rugby star Ellie Kildunne—who led the team to World Cup victory this autumn—has taken on a new role as the “voice of the airport,” delivering festive announcements and holiday messages over the loudspeakers.
For families travelling between 19 December and 5 January, participating restaurants are offering a Kids Eat Free promotion. There’s also complimentary gift wrapping available and visits from Father Christmas across the airport.
By the Numbers
Six routes crossed the one million passenger threshold for 2025 in November alone: Mumbai, Lisbon, Abu Dhabi, Zurich, Singapore, and Boston. North American traffic remains strong, with nearly 19 million passengers flying between Heathrow and the US and Canada so far this year.
And for those doing last-minute gift shopping in the terminals? Heathrow’s shops are selling a bottle of Scottish whisky every 28 seconds on average.
The airport says it’s fully prepared for winter weather, with a million litres of de-icing products ready and record staffing levels to keep things moving smoothly through the holiday rush.
Leave a Reply