Heathrow passenger numbers soar
IMPROVEMENTS to flights and rising demand from Asia helped passenger numbers at Heathrow take off last month.
The number using the airport rose 3.9 per cent to 5.9 million in March against a year ago, Heathrow said.
British Airways helped to drive the increase by improving timings of services that it took over after buying rival BMI.
Growing demand for travel to emerging markets also fuelled demand, particularly China where traffic rose 15.1 per cent. India was the next most popular with a 3.9 per cent rise, followed by Russia and Brazil. Demand for travel to China is set for a boost in September when BA adds a service to Chengdu to its Chinese routes, which include Shanghai and Beijing.
Heathrow chief executive Colin Matthews said the popularity of the airport’s new Terminal 5 was also behind the rise. “Passengers appreciate progress at Heathrow,” he said.
European traffic rose 7.4 per cent despite economic turbulence, although travellers to Greece fell 21.1 per cent on March last year.
Cargo fell 2.3 per cent which the airport said was “in line with slow world trade”.