Heathrow reports record breaking passenger numbers

Heathrow Airport has reported record-breaking passenger numbers for the first quarter of 2024,

A total of 18.5 million travellers passed through its terminals with the all time high attributed to
growth on key business routes such as Delhi and Mumbai, increased North American traffic, and a significant surge in demand from East Asian markets, which saw a 40% rise compared to the same period last year.

Javier Echave, Heathrow CFO, said: "It has been a successful start to the year thanks to colleagues delivering a consistent, reliable service to our passengers. As I close the chapter on eight years as CFO, I'm proud that Heathrow is on a strong financial footing with a clear flightpath ahead. On the horizon is Heathrow's busiest summer yet with more passengers and destinations served than ever before. We're ready to continue delivering."

In response to this growth, Heathrow has launched a refreshed business strategy aimed at becoming an extraordinary airport fit for the future, with a renewed commitment to enhancing the passenger experience and sustainability efforts under their Heathrow 2.0 initiative.

The airport is also making significant investments in infrastructure, including a £1 billion next-generation security program, upgrading baggage systems, and undertaking runway resurfacing projects to improve service and resilience.

Heathrow reported an adjusted profit before tax of £83 million for Q1, with strong liquidity of £3.8 billion.

However, the airport is focused on maintaining cost control and delivering efficiencies to meet regulatory requirements set by the Civil Aviation Authority. While no dividends are forecasted for 2024, they remain a possibility depending on financial performance.

Heathrow anticipates its busiest summer yet and is prepared to continue delivering excellent service to passengers amid increasing demand and expansion efforts.