Heathrow sees strong passenger numbers in September
Over 6.9 million passengers travelled through Heathrow Airport in September, landing its 23rd consecutive record month.
The surge was driven by passengers returning from their summer breaks and students flocking to the UK to start the new academic year.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “After the best summer on record, Heathrow continues to be the country’s gateway for millions of people who are vital to the economy. In September, we saw travellers return home after a well-deserved summer break and international students flock to the UK eager to receive a British education.”
The best performer for passenger growth was North America, up 3.8%. As passengers flew direct from Heathrow to 37 destinations across the US and Canada, the airport celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first-ever transatlantic flight, a de Havilland Comet 4 to New York. North America was closely followed by South Asia (3.1%) and East Asia (1.9%).
Cargo volumes grew by 1.2% compared to the same time last year, with the stand out markets being key economic powerhouses – the US, China and Brazil.
Heathrow announced its first investment in the restoration of UK peatlands; a project which aims to restore these carbon sinks after decades of neglect. This is just one of the actions that the airport is taking to hit its goal of being carbon neutral by 2020. The move will offset of 22,427 tonnes of CO2 over 30 years – equivalent to nearly 64,000 passenger journeys from Heathrow to New York.
In September, Heathrow also announced that Terminal 2 is now powered by entirely renewable means: 124 solar panels on its roof, an on-site biomass boiler using locally sourced forestry waste as well as renewable gas and electricity supplies. The latest ‘Fly Quiet and Green’ results saw Aer Lingus, SAS and BA (short-haul) land podium finishes in the race to be the ‘quietest and greenest’ from April to June this year.
Traffic Summary
September 2018
Terminal Passengers
(000s)
Sep 2018
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2018
% Change
Oct 2017 to
Sep 2018
% Change
Market
UK
415
-0.6
3,626
1.1
4,841
1.9
EU
2,477
0.7
20,950
2.6
27,320
2.5
Non-EU Europe
473
-0.9
4,331
-0.2
5,697
0.0
Africa
275
1.2
2,441
4.4
3,274
4.0
North America
1,615
3.8
13,668
3.7
17,842
3.1
Latin America
113
1.7
1,017
4.6
1,339
5.9
Middle East
633
-5.2
5,807
0.8
7,667
2.1
Asia / Pacific
981
1.4
8,700
2.6
11,479
3.4
Total
6,982
0.8
60,539
2.5
79,459
2.6
Air Transport Movements
Sep 2018
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2018
% Change
Oct 2017 to
Sep 2018
% Change
Market
UK
3,270
-5.6
29,291
-1.7
39,322
1.0
EU
18,415
-0.7
160,268
-0.2
211,884
-0.0
Non-EU Europe
3,548
-4.1
32,668
-3.1
43,727
-3.0
Africa
1,144
-3.0
10,557
-1.3
14,207
-2.3
North America
7,175
3.6
62,324
2.1
82,451
1.9
Latin America
498
5.5
4,465
6.5
5,900
8.1
Middle East
2,516
-3.7
23,062
-1.8
30,885
-1.2
Asia / Pacific
3,889
4.5
34,970
4.7
46,397
4.2
Total
40,455
-0.4
357,605
0.2
474,773
0.5
Cargo
(Metric Tonnes)
Sep 2018
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2018
% Change
Oct 2017 to
Sep 2018
% Change
Market
UK
63
-45.7
768
-8.1
1,044
-5.8
EU
9,561
2.5
84,123
3.1
114,228
4.3
Non-EU Europe
5,088
-0.0
42,379
7.1
57,051
10.1
Africa
7,005
-1.7
65,711
-2.5
89,823
-0.9
North America
51,691
5.7
460,313
1.8
623,873
3.8
Latin America
4,405
-3.1
37,779
12.5
51,544
16.1
Middle East
21,442
-3.1
191,048
-2.7
263,195
0.5
Asia / Pacific
43,088
-0.7
382,649
2.1
516,222
3.4
Total
142,343
1.2
1,264,771
1.5
1,716,980
3.5