Heathrow on-track for ninth year of growth
Heathrow Airport is on track for its ninth consecutive year of passenger growth, with a record 61 million passengers (+0.7%) travelling through the airport already this year.
Courtesy Heathrow
Strong retail performance and more passengers pushed Heathrow’s revenue up to £2,302 million and increased EBITDA by 1.3% to £1,454 million. Adjusted profit before tax also strengthened by 40.1%.
Virgin Atlantic has outlined credible plans to create a second flag carrier at Heathrow with over 80 new services helping to drive down airfares through increased competition and choice for passengers. Heathrow Airport is also currently reviewing feedback from its latest consultation and will submit its planning application next year.
Heathrow welcomes the Committee on Climate Change’s recent report recommending that aviation be included in the UK’s target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Heathrow will operate carbon neutral airport infrastructure from 2020 and is developing a number of bold options to substantially cut or offset aircraft emissions associated with the airport.
Alongside moves by airlines – including IAG’s recent announcement to offset all UK domestic flights from 2020 – the UK aviation industry is taking credible action to decarbonise.
Heathrow Chief Financial Officer Javier Echave said: “Heathrow is on-track for another year of record performance – which is great news for UK plc. Passengers are getting a better service, we have consulted on a strong masterplan to expand and we can see lower airfares and more airline choice for passengers appearing on the horizon.
"New investments in technology and a more sustainable supply chain are helping us to build a better Heathrow for the future - but carbon emissions remain the aviation industry’s most pressing challenge. We are committed to overcoming it and we will be outlining our own bold plans to reduce or offset aircraft emissions at Heathrow in the coming months.”