Bureaucratic tax and border policies are pushing passengers to rival European hubs, Heathrow warned today.
“While Heathrow continues to attract new routes and record passenger numbers, competitive drags hang over the airport,” it said while reporting a record 39.8 million passengers in the first half of the year.
The London hub insisted that UK aviation needed to be backed “to ensure global competitiveness”.
Heathrow said: “We encourage the new government to back aviation by taking a co-ordinated approach to policy making that supports the sector’s long-term competitiveness.
“Making Heathrow the European hub airport of choice to travel, shop and transfer through is vital to deliver growth for the whole of the UK economy.”
Despite record passenger numbers, aeronautical revenue is down by almost 8% as a result of the Civil Aviation Authority’s “tight” fees settlement.
“We continue to make progress on closing a £400 million shortfall from the settlement, and initiatives aimed at streamlining operations and driving efficiencies without impacting passenger experience or safety have enabled us to turn a £178 million adjusted profit before tax in H1,” Heathrow said.
“High load factors and larger aircraft are driving growth, with key destinations in Asia and the Middle East experiencing more than doubled demand in recent years.”
Departure punctuality improved year-on-year to 72.8% in the first six months of 2024 with more than 95% of passengers passing through security in less than five minutes.
Heathrow is prepared for a “super summer getaway” supported by a record number of 90,000 staff.
Chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: “Serving record-breaking passenger numbers while continuing to deliver excellent customer service is no easy feat and is testament to the dedication of my hardworking colleagues.
“In addition to the nearly 40 million passengers that flew through Heathrow during the first six months, so did 765 tonnes of cargo, supporting world leading British industries to access global export markets.
“We are working hard to deliver economic benefits for all of the UK, but this needs to be supported by joined up policy making that prioritises global competitiveness and sustainable growth.
“We are encouraged by the new government’s recognition of Heathrow’s role in powering growth across the country, and look forward to working with ministers to ensure we are firing on all cylinders and retain our global standing.”