Heathrow is aiming for record traffic numbers this year, with 2023 seeing the airport record its first annual profit since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The London hub welcomed 79.2 million passengers last year – the third highest annual traffic figure in its history – and expects to increase this figure to 81.4 million in 2024.
If successful, this would surpass the airport's previous record annual figures of 80.9 million passengers set in 2019.
As previously reported Heathrow regained its place as Europe's busiest airport last yearwith Istanbul Airport in second place with 76 million, followed by Paris CDG (67.4 million), Amsterdam Schiphol (61.9 million) and Madrid (60.2 million).
However, Istanbul is targeting 85 million passengers in 2024, which would likely allow it to regain the number one spot.
Istanbul airport aims for 85 million passengers in 2024
Heathrow posted an adjusted pre-tax profit of £38 million in 2023, compared to a loss of £684 million in 2022. This represents the airport's first annual profit since 2019, driven by “a strong performance in the fourth trimester”.
Heathrow said it was currently in the process of upgrading 146 security lanes with new scanning equipment, as major UK airports race to complete the work. before the DfT's June deadline.
He also highlighted plans to build a new exclusive baggage system in its Terminal 2and the BEUMER Group will be in charge of executing the six-year project.
But Heathrow warned that “airport charges have been cut by 20 per cent in real terms from early 2024, in line with the CAA's H7 deal, meaning maintaining even a small profit will require us to close a £400 gap. millions with efficiencies and investments. compensations in the next three years.”
Commenting on the news, Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said:
“2023 was a good year for Heathrow from a challenging start to a great finish – we delivered a much improved service to our customers and managed to make a small profit after three consecutive years of losses.
“It is a great platform to build on, although in 2024 we are expected to provide an even better service to more passengers, but with a reduction in airport charges of 20 per cent in real terms.
“We will need to pull all the levers to become more efficient and make tough decisions about where we spend and invest our money to overcome the enormous cost challenge set by the CAA and remain profitable over the next three years.”
In other news it was reported in Sunday weather that Heathrow plans for a third runway have been “shelved”although a Bloomberg article later quotes Heathrow denying the report.
heathrow.com
