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London’s Heathrow Airport anticipates ‘busiest’ summer to date
Global News
Heathrow, a global travel hub, says it expects about 82.4 million passengers to travel through the airport this year, despite the possibility of strike-related delays.
London’s Heathrow Airport is expecting this summer will be its busiest to date after surpassing passenger records in the first quarter of 2024.
About 82.4 million passengers are projected to travel through the airport this year despite a looming workers strike, according to a news release Wednesday.
“The summer getaway is expected to be the busiest on record, and we have a robust operating plan in place to keep the airport running smoothly, even if unnecessary industrial action materialises,” it said.
Heathrow has already been seeing higher than typical traffic this year. About 18.5 million passengers travelled through the airport during the first quarter, which is more than the airport has ever seen before.
Heathrow says it is investing in itself as the U.K.’s “hub” airport by pouring £1 billion (C$1.71 billion) into a security overhaul along with a number of projects. It includes installing 146 new lanes across the airport, replacing the baggage system in Terminal 2 with upgraded systems and a “once-in-a-decade” job resurfacing its two runways.
“It has been a successful start to the year thanks to colleagues delivering a consistent, reliable service to our passengers,” Heathrow CFO Javier Echave said in the release.
“On the horizon is Heathrow’s busiest summer yet with more passengers and destinations served than ever before. We’re ready to continue delivering.”
Heathrow is the largest airport in the United Kingdom and has some of the highest numbers of connecting destinations for travellers.