Heathrow posts record January as passenger numbers hit new highs

(Sharecast News) - Heathrow said it had handled 6.5m passengers during the month, up more than 2% on the same time a year earlier, with several peak days exceeding 250,000 travellers despite weather‑related disruption across the US and Europe. More than 201,000 people flew on Blue Monday alone, reflecting strong demand for post‑holiday travel, while january was also the first month in which all passengers used the airport's new security lanes across every terminal.

Cargo volumes reached 124,529 tonnes, underscoring its role as the UK's main gateway for global trade, with the hub handling more than 70% of the country's non‑EU air‑cargo exports by value.

Heathrow also stated that a year after the Chancellor highlighted Heathrow expansion as central to the UK's economic ambitions, new industry data showed that its passenger growth was now lagging the European average due to the airport operating at full capacity.

Chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: "I am proud of the strong service, great value and unrivalled global connectivity Heathrow provides to our customers. We remain Europe's largest airport, but latest figures show we may lose that position in 2026 and we cannot keep driving growth for the UK economy without more capacity.

"That's why Heathrow expansion is so critical. The decisions Ministers and the CAA take this year are essential to enable the delivery of the UK's flagship growth project, secure planning permission by 2029, and ensure the UK has the flight and cargo capacity that it deserves."







Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com