Heathrow’s November traffic up 3.1 per cent year-on-year
PASSENGER traffic at London’s Heathrow airport rose 3.1 per cent on the same month last year, Heathrow, the British airport operator formerly known as BAA, said yesterday.
Of the 5.4m passengers who passed through the London hub last month, passenger numbers to China rose 12.9 per cent, with Brazil and Russia also delivering good growth, the company said. European traffic was also up strongly on November 2011.
“Passenger figures to the Bric economies continue to be strong, illustrating the demand for routes to emerging markets. But there’s more demand that the UK can’t meet – because its only hub airport, Heathrow, is full,” said Heathrow’s chief executive Colin Matthews.
The airport operator said part of the increase was due to the late half term school holidays in Britain, as well as disruption in November last year.
Heathrow’s load factor – showing how full the average flight was – was up to a record 72.8 per cent, the group said.
It also confirmed yesterday that Heathrow Airport’s new Terminal 2 will be home to STAR Alliance and Aer Lingus flights as well as Virgin Atlantic’s domestic routes when it opens in 2014.