Heathrow Airport: Understanding Passenger Capacity And Traffic

London Heathrow Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2024, it was the busiest airport in Europe, the fourth busiest airport globally by passenger traffic, and the second busiest by international passenger traffic. In 2023, the airport handled approximately 79.2 million passengers, up from 61.6 million in 2022. Heathrow's busiest year on record was 2019, when 80.9 million passengers travelled through the airport.

London Heathrow's passenger numbers in 2023

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) handled approximately 79.2 million passengers in 2023, a significant increase from the 61.6 million recorded in 2022. This number is also very close to the pre-pandemic peak of 80.884 million passengers in 2019. Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in the United Kingdom and one of the busiest in the world, handling over 70 million passengers annually in the last decade.

Heathrow's strong performance in 2023 can be attributed to several factors, including the increase in passenger numbers across various markets. The airport's largest market, the European Union, saw an increase of 22.8% compared to 2022, with 26.15 million passengers. Flights to and from non-EU destinations within Europe also contributed with 5.329 million travellers, a 19.7% increase. Domestic traffic within the UK rose by 26.4%, resulting in a total of 4.243 million passengers for the year.

Transatlantic travel to North America, Heathrow's second most popular market, saw a 29.6% increase with 19.961 million passengers. New York JFK Airport was the busiest destination for Heathrow passengers, with over three million travellers. Other popular North American destinations included Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, Newark, and Boston.

Smaller markets, such as the Middle East and Asia/Pacific, also contributed to Heathrow's passenger numbers in 2023. The Middle East saw 8.018 million passengers, while the Asia/Pacific market experienced a remarkable 76.2% year-on-year increase, resulting in 9.777 million passengers.

Heathrow's recovery to 97.9% of its 2019 passenger numbers reflects a positive trend in the aviation industry's recovery from the pandemic. With its high passenger volume and dynamic market distribution, London Heathrow Airport continues to be a key player in global air travel.

Heathrow's busiest year for passengers

Heathrow Airport in London is Britain's busiest airport, serving millions of passengers every year. The airport has two runways and flights to 214 destinations across 84 countries.

The airport's busiest year on record was 2019, when 80.9 million passengers travelled through its terminals. However, the number of passengers travelling through Heathrow dropped sharply in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, falling to approximately 22 million.

In 2023, Heathrow handled approximately 79.2 million passengers, a significant increase from the 61.6 million recorded in 2022. This was also the year that Terminal 5, which opened in 2008, had its busiest year ever, surpassing 33 million passengers for the second time since its opening.

Heathrow's passenger numbers continued to rise in 2024, with a record-breaking 83.9 million passengers travelling through the airport. This was an increase of 4.7 million passengers compared to 2023 and 3 million more than the previous record set in 2019.

The airport forecasts that it will serve 84.2 million passengers in 2025 and has pledged to invest over £1 billion to make the airport "fit for the future".

Passenger numbers by terminal

Heathrow Airport is the primary and largest international airport serving London. It has four operational passenger terminals.

In 2021, Heathrow served 19.4 million passengers, with an average of 128,178 passengers per day. Terminal 5, which is used exclusively by British Airways and Iberia, served 10.5 million passengers on 92,925 flights. Terminal 2, also known as the Queen's Terminal, served 6.1 million passengers on 65,839 flights. Terminal 3 served 2.8 million passengers on 28,288 flights. Terminal 4 served 2,000 passengers on 513 flights.

In 2023, Heathrow handled approximately 79.2 million passengers, a significant increase from the previous year's total of 61.6 million. The airport's busiest year on record was in 2019, with 80.9 million passengers.

Passenger numbers by market

London Heathrow Airport is the UK's largest airport, serving over 70 million passengers annually in the last decade. Heathrow's passenger numbers peaked in 2019, when 80.9 million passengers travelled through the airport. However, the number of passengers dropped sharply in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with only around 22 million travellers passing through the airport that year.

In 2023, Heathrow handled approximately 79.2 million passengers, a significant increase from the 61.6 million recorded in 2022. This positive trend brought passenger numbers close to pre-pandemic levels.

Heathrow's largest market in 2023 was the European Union, with flights to and from EU countries accounting for 26.15 million passengers. This represented a 22.8% increase compared to 2022. Flights to and from non-EU destinations within Europe were less popular but still accounted for 6.73% of passengers, totalling 5.329 million travellers.

Domestic traffic also showed a notable increase in 2023, with 26.4% more passengers flying to and from other UK destinations compared to the previous year. The total number of domestic passengers for 2023 was 4.243 million.

Transatlantic travel to North America was Heathrow's second most popular market in 2023, with 19.961 million passengers. New York JFK was the busiest destination in this market, with over three million passengers. Other popular North American destinations included Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, Newark, and Boston.

Smaller markets for Heathrow in 2023 included the Middle East, with 8.018 million passengers, and Asia/Pacific, with 9.777 million passengers. The Asia/Pacific market stood out due to its impressive 76.2% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers.

Passenger numbers by domestic/international

London Heathrow Airport is the largest airport in the United Kingdom and one of the busiest in the world, serving over 70 million passengers annually in the last decade. Heathrow Airport is Britain's busiest airport, serving 19.4 million passengers in 2021, with an average of 128,178 passengers per day. Of these, 87.6% (17 million) were international travellers, while 12.4% (2.4 million) were domestic travellers.

In 2023, Heathrow handled approximately 79.2 million passengers, a significant increase from the 61.6 million passengers recorded in 2022. This rebound in passenger numbers brought Heathrow close to its pre-pandemic peak of 80.884 million passengers in 2019.

The largest market for Heathrow Airport is the European Union, with flights to and from EU countries accounting for 26.15 million passengers in 2023, a 22.8% increase from the previous year. Flights to and from non-EU destinations within Europe also contributed to a significant 6.73% of Heathrow's passenger traffic in 2023, amounting to 5.329 million travellers.

Domestic traffic within the UK demonstrated a notable increase in 2023, with 26.4% more passengers flying to and from other UK destinations compared to 2022. The total number of domestic passengers for 2023 was 4.243 million, with these flights operating on 322,367 occasions.

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