Heathrow Airport anticipates record-breaking December passenger numbers

London Heathrow Airport is projecting its busiest December on record, with passenger numbers expected to surpass the 7.08 million recorded in December 2024. The airport also anticipates an unprecedented number of travellers on Christmas Day, exceeding last year's 160,000. Chief executive Thomas Woldbye affirmed the airport's readiness, stating it is "fully prepared" to handle the festive rush by deploying a record number of staff and accumulating one million litres of de-icing products to ensure smooth operations.

This surge aligns with a broader trend across the United Kingdom, as UK airports collectively prepare for their busiest Christmas period in history, with December passenger figures forecast to exceed 22 million. Heathrow itself experienced its busiest November, serving 6.63 million passengers, a 2.1 percent increase year-on-year. Notably, flight increases were most significant in the Middle East (up 15.4 percent) and Asia/Pacific (up 6.5 percent) markets.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) previously reported that summer 2024 was the busiest on record for UK airports, with 90.2 million passengers travelling between July and September, marking a two percent rise from the same period in 2024. Regional airports such as Bournemouth (up 28 percent), Liverpool (up 10 percent), and Edinburgh (up nine percent) saw the highest year-on-year percentage growth in passengers during this summer. Popular international destinations predominantly included European cities like Palma de Mallorca, Dublin, Amsterdam, and Alicante.