Heathrow Airport, Britain's busiest, has reported a significant recovery in passenger numbers in June 2023, reaching almost the same level as before the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the airport's traffic statistics, 7 million passengers traveled through Heathrow last month, just 3% below the total in June 2019.
Transatlantic travel drives demand
The main driver of the rebound was transatlantic travel, which resumed after the UK and the US eased travel restrictions in May 2023. Heathrow said more than 1.5 million passengers flew between the UK and the US in June, up from 200,000 in May to only 30,000 in April. The airport also saw an increase in demand for other destinations, such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, as more countries were added to the UK's green list of safe travel destinations. However, Heathrow warned that some markets, such as Asia and Africa, remained severely affected by travel bans and quarantine requirements.
Challenges and opportunities ahead
Despite the positive results in June, Heathrow still faces significant challenges in recovering from the impact of the pandemic, which caused a record loss of £2 billion in 2022. The airport said it needs more government support to reduce costs and boost confidence in travel, such as simplifying the testing and tracing system, expanding the green list, and recognizing vaccinated travelers.
On the other hand, Heathrow also sees opportunities to grow its business and improve its environmental performance in the post-pandemic era. The airport said it plans to invest £1.5 billion over the next five years to upgrade its infrastructure, increase its capacity and reduce its carbon emissions. Heathrow also aims to become a global hub for sustainable aviation fuels, which could reduce its emissions by up to 80%.