Heathrow has seen an increased rate of passenger growth following last summer’s Brexit vote.
The west London airport recorded a 4.2% rise in passengers in January to a record 5.74 million over the same month last year.
Growth has accelerated in recent months, suggesting economic resilience as the UK adapts to Brexit, according to Heathrow.
Increases of 4.4% in December and 4.2% in January represented the fastest year-on-year passenger growth for those months in six years.
“The rate of growth for passengers and cargo more than doubled in the second half of 2016 over the first half of the year,” the airport said today.
“Furthermore, since the referendum vote, passenger flows outside the EU (+2.3%) have been growing more than twice as fast as growth with EU markets (+0.9%).
Heathrow’s expansion plans passed the “first delivery milestone” on schedule as the government published its draft National Policy Statement on a third runway.
The airport also agreed to cut domestic charges by more than a third – representing a claimed saving of over £500 million.
“The discount is a key part of Heathrow’s plan to encourage growth outside London by making it cheaper to travel beyond the capital,” Heathrow said.
“Airlines are already responding to the new discounted charges with Flybe launching at Heathrow with routes to Aberdeen and Edinburgh from March.”
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “With record passenger numbers and cargo growth in January, Heathrow continues to serve the UK.
“We are getting on with our expansion programme, so that we can create the new routes that will deliver the prime minister’s vision of a global Britain, as quickly as possible.
“The launch of the government’s National Policy Statement consultation is a key milestone and we look forward to working with our local communities, airlines and the Government to ensure Heathrow expansion is affordable, sustainable and benefits all of Britain.”