Heathrow reports 15th consecutive record month for passengers
Britain’s primary air hub reported a flying start to the year on Monday, with 5.8 million passengers passing through Heathrow Airport in January.
The hub’s owner, Heathrow Airport Holdings, said passenger volumes were up 1.1% on 2017 figures, with January marking the 15th consecutive record month for Heathrow.
Domestic flights were said to be a key driver of growth, with UK flights up 6.9% in the first month of 2018, following the increased uptake of Flybe's offering.
South Asia and Latin America also saw “remarkable” growth, up 11.3% and 6.9% respectively.
Freight travelling through Heathrow also reached record levels for the start of the year, with more than 133,000 tonnes of cargo making its way through the airport in January, with export volumes growing by 10.6%.
The airport company said the top destinations for cargo growth were the US at 1,214t, Spain at 1,070t and China at 966t.
During the month, Heathrow also launched one of the largest public planning consultations in the country's history.
The company said the 10 week consultation offered the public the opportunity to shape the airport's plans to construct an extremely controversial third runway, which the board said would enable Heathrow to deliver the benefits of expansion while keeping commitments it has made to local communities
It also noted that, as Prime Minister Theresa May set off for a trade mission to China during January, fresh research from New Frontier Economics suggested that direct flights between Heathrow and China contributed £510m per year in GDP to the UK economy, and created 14,550 jobs.
An additional flight a week on each existing connection, facilitated through Heathrow's expansion, could generate an additional £16m to GDP, the board claimed.
Regional airline Flybe, which trades on the London Stock Exchange, took the top spot in the latest 'Fly Quiet and Green’ league table during the month.
The table ranks airlines at Heathrow based on their noise and emissions performance.
Heathrow said Flybe worked with airport management to increase its use of continuous descent approaches into the airport, which reportedly reduced aircraft noise for local communities.
“Heathrow is off to a flying start, with record passenger numbers and cargo volumes and the start of our public consultation on the third runway,” said airport CEO John Holland-Kaye.
“Heathrow expansion will provide the global trading routes to super-charge Britain's economy as we leave the EU.”
Heathrow Airport Holdings is privately held by FGP Topco Limited, a consortium owned and led by Ferrovial at 25%, alongside the Qatar Investment Authority at 20%, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec at 12.62%, GIC at 11.20%, Alinda Capital Partners of the United States at 11.18%, China Investment Corporation at 10%, and Universities Superannuation Scheme at 10%.
It was known as BAA - the privatised British Airports Authority - until it was forced to sell holdings in its other UK airports including Gatwick, Stansted, Edinburgh and Glasgow after competition concerns raised in 2009.