Heathrow traffic declines in March after power outage
April 11, 2025
Heathrow Airport recorded a quieter March, with total passenger traffic down 7.5% and aircraft movements falling by 3% compared to March 2024.
The slowdown was attributed to a combination of seasonal calendar shifts and operational disruption.
More than 6.2 million travelers passed through the UK’s busiest airport last month, a dip largely driven by the timing of Ramadan and a later Easter, both of which tend to affect international travel patterns.
Additionally, a 10-hour closure on March 21, caused by a power failure following a major fire at the National Grid and SSEN’s North Hyde substation, disrupted operations and grounded flights.
Despite the softer passenger numbers, Heathrow’s cargo operations remained resilient.
The airport handled over 144,000 tonnes of freight in March—a modest 0.3% increase year-on-year. Notably, cargo carried in the belly hold of passenger flights rose 4%.
In the lead-up to Mother’s Day, an estimated 2,800 tonnes of flowers were flown in, the airport said.
Heathrow is also expanding its global connectivity, with eight new or resumed routes launching from carriers including Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, and British Airways.
Among the new destinations are Riyadh, Ottawa, and Kuala Lumpur. Flights have also been added to Tbilisi, marking the first time in a decade that the Georgian capital has been served directly from Heathrow.
Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow’s CEO, remained upbeat about the airport’s performance and outlook: “It’s great to see strong demand to travel through Heathrow.
“Whilst passenger numbers were slightly down due to changing holidays this year, belly hold cargo on passenger flights was a bright spot growing 4% and underlining the importance of Heathrow as the UK’s gateway to growth.
“We are still on track to see another record year in 2025 and colleagues are working hard preparing for a busy Easter and May Bank Holiday getaway.”
