Member Article

'Let's get on with it': Heathrow sees busiest ever March but expansion plans remain static

Heathrow saw its busiest ever March with a record 5.95 million passengers travelling through the airport, an increase of 3.4% on March 2014 as airport bosses continue to champion the controversial expansion plans.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye argued ‘expanding Heathrow will connect all of Britain to global growth’ after the airport reported a sizeable loss last year, despite running a ‘full capacity’.

Within emerging markets, the airport’s passenger volumes were particularly strong to Mexico which was up 26.5%, China up 20.2% and the Middle East & Central Asia up 7.6%. North American segments continued their robust performance with volumes increasing 6.0%

Heathrow also announced a package of measures which will aim to boost regional connectivity - including a proposed £10 discount on domestic passenger charges and a £10 million route development fund to support five new domestic routes for three years - while encouraging cleaner, quieter aircraft to operate from the UK’s hub

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “All the growth in the world is in faraway markets like China, Vietnam and Mexico - we can create jobs right across Britain if we make it easy to get there from anywhere in the UK.

This month we have announced measures to help airlines establish services from UK airports to Heathrow, including lower charges for domestic passengers and a route development fund.

“Along with easyJet’s recent announcement that it plans to operate new domestic routes from Heathrow, this demonstrates our commitment that expanding Heathrow will connect all of Britain to global growth. Now, let’s get on with it.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .