Heathrow passenger traffic reaches record high in March as airport claims it has queue of 30 airlines waiting for slots
Heathrow is boasting a record month for passengers in March – and using it as further leverage to press its case for expansion.
The west London airport saw 6.1 million passengers go through its door last month, up 2.5 per cent on the year before. Larger, quieter, fuller aircraft continued boosted passenger volumes, Heathrow said.
Emerging markets drove much of the airport's growth, with trips to China, Mexico, India and the Middle East up (12, six, four and nine per cent respectively).
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: "It's been a record March for Heathrow and I'm delighted that we've added the UK's first direct connection to Indonesia.
"As Southeast Asia's largest economy, Garuda Indonesia's new route will be a significant boon for British SMEs looking for new export opportunities.
"But it isn't just Indonesia waiting to access the UK's only hub – there is a queue of over 30 airlines waiting for slots from Heathrow. With expansion, we can supercharge British trade by opening up 40 new long haul trading links with the fastest growing markets in the world. Let's make it happen."