London’s Heathrow Airport, which is battling Gatwick for government approval for an extra runway, said it handled a record 7.34 million passengers in August, with more flying to the Middle East and Latin America.
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A spokesman for Heathrow argued that August’s meagre traffic increase demonstrated that the airport is essentially full, and so strengthened its case for a controversial third runway.
Heathrow’s figures come after Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, said last week that passenger traffic jumped 14 per cent from a year earlier to a monthly record of 7.62 million people in July.
The airport has just passed the 42 million annual passenger mark – a milestone the Commission forecast it would not reach until 2030. The aim is to increase the number of SMEs who benefit directly and indirectly from the economic opportunities provided by Heathrow.
The airport welcomed Great Britain’s Olympic team on their return from Rio last month.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye commented: “We were delighted to welcome the golden heroes of Team GB back from Rio”.
The use of larger, quieter and more efficient aircraft continued to be a driver for growth in passenger volumes which are up 0.7% for 2016 as airlines deploy more and more new generation Airbus A380s, A350s and Boeing 787s at Heathrow.
“Our growth and success illustrates that Britain needs to put the failed plans of the past behind it and back the plan that can actually deliver and deliver cheaper, faster, simpler and with absolutely no taxpayer subsidy”.
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Britain should not accept bronze, when we could so easily win gold. Gatwick is delivering for Britain today and, with a second runway, will continue to deliver the crucial growth we need now more than ever.
