Almost seven million passengers used Heathrow last month as the London hub starts to gear up for the peak festive travel season.
The October half-term period saw Heathrow handle 2.2 million travellers, with Dubai, New York and Los Angeles among the most popular destinations.
The strong demand, with monthly numbers up by 18% to give a January-October total of 66.3 million, saw Heathrow become the fourth largest airport in the world, now serving 239 destinations in 89 countries.
Hong Kong became the 12th route surpassing one million passengers for the year, and following Doha, New York JFK and Delhi among others
Heathrow has begun preparations for the upcoming holiday peaks alongside a Christmas advertising campaign, highlighting the significance of travelling to see loved ones during the holidays.
New chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: “I’ve learned a lot about Heathrow in my first few weeks, but one thing that really stands out to me is the passion and drive of colleagues to get people away smoothly on their journeys.
“We look forward to welcoming passengers from across the world over the upcoming festive season with a friendly face to lend a helping hand.
“If your journey sees you travelling through Heathrow we’ve got you covered, from attractive shops to meet your gifting needs to restaurants for all the family, we will ensure a seamless start to your holiday plans.”