Heathrow Airport Sees 90% Passenger Growth in December as Transatlantic Travel Fueled Reunions Over the Holidays

• Christmas and New Year reunions fuelled passenger growth during December, with more than 5.9 million passengers travelling in the month – up 90% compared with the same time last year
• Transatlantic travel was a key driver behind last month’s high passenger volumes, with JFK clinching the top spot as the airport’s busiest route
• Forward planning and close collaboration with airport partners ensured we provided a smooth and efficient service to travellers throughout the festive period.  92% of passengers passed through security in under 10 minutes during the Christmas peak, service for passengers with reduced mobility improved, and arriving travellers reported a friendly and efficient journey through immigration in spite of industrial action
• In total, Heathrow welcomed 61.6 million passengers (76% of 2019 levels) during 2022 – 42.2 million higher than in 2021. This is the highest passenger increase of any airport in Europe
• Providing excellent service remains our key priority for 2023, as the aviation industry rebuilds capacity and resilience.
• We are concerned that the recovery of the aviation sector, which is critical to the economy, could be set back by the reintroduction of testing for travellers in the UK and elsewhere in response to increasing COVID levels in China, even though governments acknowledge there is no scientific basis for doing so

London, UK, 2023-Jan-12 — /Travel PR News/ —

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said:

“2022 ended on a high with our busiest Christmas in three years and a smooth and efficient service for passengers, thanks to the hard work of our colleagues and close planning with airlines, their ground handlers and Border Force.”

Traffic Summary
December 2022
Terminal Passengers (000s)	Dec 2022	% Change	Jan to Dec 2022	% Change	Jan 2022 to Dec 2022	% Change
Market
UK	324	43.3	3,356	89.8	3,356	89.8
EU	1,851	127.1	21,299	193.5	21,299	193.5
Non-EU Europe	428	102.4	4,447	189.4	4,447	189.4
Africa	311	86.0	2,880	176.8	2,880	176.8
North America	1,453	82.1	15,399	361.4	15,399	361.4
Latin America	171	47.7	1,723	317.5	1,723	317.5
Middle East	690	42.8	6,945	201.9	6,945	201.9
Asia / Pacific	713	134.8	5,549	219.1	5,549	219.1
Total	5,943	90.4	61,599	217.6	61,599	217.6
Air Transport Movements	Dec 2022	% Change	Jan to Dec 2022	% Change	Jan 2022 to Dec 2022	% Change
Market
UK	2,627	24.0	27,127	57.6	27,127	57.6
EU	14,318	46.2	166,082	128.9	166,082	128.9
Non-EU Europe	3,238	54.0	33,817	134.3	33,817	134.3
Africa	1,355	34.7	13,567	72.0	13,567	72.0
North America	6,522	43.1	74,194	113.4	74,194	113.4
Latin America	745	22.3	7,583	140.2	7,583	140.2
Middle East	2,421	20.9	25,564	50.0	25,564	50.0
Asia / Pacific	3,094	26.6	28,912	25.9	28,912	25.9
Total	34,320	39.3	376,846	98.3	376,846	98.3
Cargo (Metric Tonnes)	Dec 2022	% Change	Jan to Dec 2022	% Change	Jan 2022 to Dec 2022	% Change
Market
UK	4	-60.7	113	-48.6	113	-48.6
EU	7,424	-18.4	100,360	-17.2	100,360	-17.2
Non-EU Europe	3,484	-32.4	39,314	-41.8	39,314	-41.8
Africa	6,435	-25.0	79,865	2.9	79,865	2.9
North America	43,099	-5.5	534,029	10.9	534,029	10.9
Latin America	3,884	24.9	43,309	84.4	43,309	84.4
Middle East	19,054	-2.1	234,051	2.4	234,051	2.4
Asia / Pacific	25,768	-28.7	319,839	-20.5	319,839	-20.5
Total	109,151	-14.2	1,350,879	-3.7	1,350,879	-3.7
Cargo (incl. Mail, Charter & Positioning flights) (Metric Tonnes)	Dec 2022	% Change	Jan to Dec 2022	% Change	Jan 2022 to Dec 2022	% Change
Market
UK	6	-93.1	408	-44.6	408	-44.6
EU	8,039	-17.8	106,595	-16.2	106,595	-16.2
Non-EU Europe	3,688	-34.4	41,957	-42.6	41,957	-42.6
Africa	6,523	-24.9	80,718	3.0	80,718	3.0
North America	46,226	-4.1	556,632	10.6	556,632	10.6
Latin America	3,910	25.0	43,549	83.9	43,549	83.9
Middle East	19,486	-1.9	238,525	1.4	238,525	1.4
Asia / Pacific	26,972	-29.0	331,620	-20.4	331,620	-20.4
Total	114,850	-13.9	1,400,004	-4.0	1,400,004	-4.0

Contact:

Press Office
0208 745 7224

Source: Heathrow Airport

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