Heathrow says it is ‘full’ after busiest February – Daily Business

Heathrow is pushing the case for expansion

Heathrow Airport is “full” and has again pressed its case for expansion after experiencing its busiest ever February.

The airport handled 5.8 million passengers last month, a 1.9% (110,000) year-on-year increase, driven by strong half-term and Chinese New Year travel.

However, with Heathrow operating close to capacity, the latest ACI data shows passenger growth is now trailing the European average (4.6%).

The airport continues to advocate for expansion, citing current capacity constraints and the rise of Istanbul as Europe’s busiest airport, which limits passenger choice and competition.

Heathrow said it is also monitoring the situation in the Middle East and working with partners to support affected passengers.

Cargo volumes also rose by 4% to nearly 130,000 tonnes, demonstrating its importance as a trade hub. Punctuality remained high, outperforming other European hubs.

The world’s most connected airport is “full”, it said, limiting choice for passengers and stifling competition.

It says expansion will add new routes, introduce more choice and in turn lower fares. “Our plans will ensure the country gets the infrastructure it needs to stay competitive and will deliver all-important economic growth.”

#Heathrow #full #busiest #February #Daily #Business