Greater UK point-to-point airport capacity is no substitute for new hub capacity, the boss of Heathrow said today.
Chief executive Colin Matthews underlined the need for hub capacity as Heathrow announced passenger numbers hit 72.3 million in 2013.
The airport revealed it had seen a 3.4% rise in passengers handled last year over 2012.
Taking into account the dip in demand from the London Olympic Games, underlying growth is estimated at 2.3%.
European traffic grew 4.4%, in part a ‘bounce back’ from the Olympics and also benefiting from the integration of BMI into British Airways’ network.
Bric passengers were up 6.9% over the year, with China up 18.9%, and India up 8.7%.
The figures came as Heathrow announced that 5.8 million passengers passed through the airport in December, up 2.8% on the same month in 2012.
Matthews said: “Our passenger figures reflect the growing demand for the long-haul destinations only a hub airport can support.
“Yet Heathrow is full, leaving European hubs to add destinations whilst we look on.
“We are not against expansion at Gatwick, but greater point-to-point capacity is no substitute for new hub capacity which only Heathrow can provide.”
Two of the three options suggested by the Airport Commission for runway expansion in the southeast are at Heathrow.