Heathrow predicts surge of summer holidaymakers will help aviation recovery

Heathrow has predicted that a “surge” of holidaymakers will help a recovery in aviation this summer, despite passenger numbers at the airport last year tumbling to the lowest levels since the 1970s. The UK’s busiest airport also indicated it still hoped to build a third runway in the coming years as the industry emerges from its worst crisis in its history. The airport said on Wednesday it lost GBP1.8b in 2021, bringing total losses during the coronavirus crisis to GBP3.8b. John Holland-Kaye, CE, said 2021 was “the worst year in Heathrow’s history” after passenger numbers fell to 19.4m, even lower than the 22.1m who travelled in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. “Demand is now starting to recover,” as the impact of the Omicron variant had faded, he said. The airport was also working with airlines “to scale up our operations” in time for the summer peak season. Terminal 4, which was mothballed during the tight UK government travel restrictions, would be open in time for the summer, he added. The airport expected to hit its forecast of 45.5m passengers this year thanks to “a surge of Brits heading for summer sun”, even though passenger numbers slipped 23 per cent below expectations in the first two months of the year because of Omicron-related travel restrictions. The upbeat forecast meant Heathrow expansion was “back on the table”, Holland-Kaye told the Financial Times. “We are going to take some time this year to decide what the timetable is going to be . . . but this is the right time to be investing in future capacity, we should not wait to be full again,” he said. Heathrow is entitled to apply for planning permission for a third runway after the Supreme Court in 2020 ruled the project could proceed. Heathrow also pledged to press ahead with plans to raise its landing charges to help recover losses built up during the pandemic, despite fierce opposition from airlines that use the hub.<br/>