London Heathrow Airport capped off 2024 with its highest-ever December passenger numbers, including an unexpected 13% rise in traffic on Christmas Day compared to the
previous year’s record.
As the aviation industry rebounds from the pandemic, airports worldwide continue to report record-breaking traffic. London Heathrow stands out, surpassing its 2019 annual total by three million passengers, hitting an all-time high of 83.9 million in 2024.
This figure represents a 5.9% year-on-year increase, with air transport movements rising by 4.4% to 43,246 for the year. The UK market led the growth with a 14.8% surge, while the North American market dipped slightly by 0.2%. “Christmas Day, traditionally a quieter travel day, saw a record 160,000 passengers, up 13% from the previous record in 2023,” a Heathrow spokesperson noted.
The achievement crowns a banner year for Heathrow, which retained its title as Europe’s busiest airport in the first half of the year. This success came despite losing an estimated 90,000 passenger transfers due to the introduction of a £10 electronic travel authorization (ETA) charge. October marked the conclusion of Heathrow’s busiest summer season ever, with September 2 registering a record 140,500 passenger arrivals in a single day.
Looking ahead, Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye emphasized the airport's commitment to enhancing customer value by investing in improved facilities for passengers and airlines. He also noted that in 2024, 92% of passengers cleared security in under five minutes, reflecting Heathrow’s operational efficiency.
In addition to passenger growth, Heathrow’s cargo sector saw significant gains, with nearly 138,000 tons of cargo moving through the airport in 2024, up more than 10% from 2023. This increase is attributed to Heathrow’s expanding long-haul network. The African market showed the strongest growth in cargo, rising by 22.4%, followed by North America and Asia-Pacific at 14.7% and 14.3%, respectively.
With these milestones, Heathrow enters 2025 poised for further growth and improvement, aiming to solidify its position as a global aviation hub. Photo by Warren Rohner, Wikimedia commons.