Heathrow Growth continues
Heathrow on-track for ninth year of growth - Results for the nine months ended 30 September 2019
More passengers than ever are choosing to fly from Heathrow with a record 61 million passengers (+0.7%) travelling through the UK’s hub airport already this year. This puts the West London hub on course to secure the airport's ninth consecutive year of passenger growth
Better service for passengers continues to be one of the main drivers underpinning the ever-growing figures. Service scores maintained a high score with 82% of passengers rating their experience as either “Excellent” or “Very Good” following £489 million of investment to boost airport efficiency, resilience and security.
The airport's terminals are one of the strong points. Terminal 5 has established itself as one of the world's best and Terminal 2 The Queen's Terminal has done the same. Both buildings put Heathrow on a par with the best the rest of the world can offer and this has resulted in a strong financial performance – more passengers pushed Heathrow’s revenue up to £2,302 million and increased EBITDA by 1.3% to £1,454 million. Adjusted profit before tax also strengthened by 40.1%
While some are critical of airport shopping generally it is often forgotten that the revenue generated is what enables airports to continually improve facilities for those who use them; passengers.
The airport is also seeing the tangible benefits of expansion. Virgin Atlantic outlined credible plans to create a second flag carrier at Heathrow with over 80 new services helping to drive down airfares through increased competition and choice for passengers. The airport's planners are also currently reviewing feedback from the latest consultation and will submit the new runway's planning application next year.
Heathrow has also welcomed the Committee on Climate Change’s recent report recommending that aviation be included in the UK’s target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Heathrow will operate carbon neutral airport infrastructure from 2020 and is developing a number of bold options to substantially cut or offset aircraft emissions associated with the airport. Alongside moves by airlines – including IAG’s recent announcement to offset all UK domestic flights from 2020 – the UK aviation industry is taking credible action to decarbonise
Heathrow's Chief Financial Officer Javier Echave said: “Heathrow is on-track for another year of record performance – which is great news for UK plc. Passengers are getting a better service, we have consulted on a strong masterplan to expand and we can see lower airfares and more airline choice for passengers appearing on the horizon. New investments in technology and a more sustainable supply chain are helping us to build a better Heathrow for the future - but carbon emissions remain the aviation industry’s most pressing challenge. We are committed to overcoming it and we will be outlining our own bold plans to reduce or offset aircraft emissions at Heathrow in the coming months.”
Images: Heathrow Airport
Available from November 1:
The second edition of Kevan James' earlier book on Heathrow, An Illustrated History.
Substantially revised and re-written in many areas, the new edition also has three new chapters and brings the story of the airport right up to date.
Note that this edition does not have the 200+ black and white images included in the first, but relies more on an informative and flowing text, beginning with the airport's earliest days and guiding the reader through the airport's myths and legends as well as revealing the author's own experiences as a regular user.
In addition a direct comparision with New York's John F. Kennedy airport is made - Heathrow's busiest and most frequently travelled route.
It is a book that will not only attract the flyer and enthusiast but also those interested in social history and the development of the UK's infrastructure.