Key Heathrow numbers as government backs third runway
January 29, 2025
The UK government has officially backed the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport, reigniting the long-running debate over the expansion of the country’s busiest airport. The announcement follows a record-breaking year for Heathrow, which saw its highest-ever number of flights and passenger seats.
A Record Year for Heathrow
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that 2024 was Heathrow’s busiest year on record, with over 480,000 scheduled departures and arrivals. This represents a 4.4% increase compared to 2023. The airport also saw a record number of available seats, with more than 104 million scheduled seats to and from Heathrow over the 12-month period.
Globally, Heathrow ranked as the fourth busiest airport in terms of seat capacity and ninth in terms of total scheduled flights. The UK’s top 10 busiest international routes in 2024 were all from Heathrow, with the London-New York JFK route topping the list, followed by flights to Dubai and Dublin.
Despite its prominence, Heathrow fell out of the top 10 in Cirium’s ‘Most Connected Airport’ ranking, coming in at 12th place with 221 destinations served. Gatwick followed in 14th place with 218 destinations, tying with Madrid.
UK Aviation’s Post-Pandemic Recovery
Heathrow’s record-breaking performance reflects a wider recovery in UK aviation, with 2024 seeing over 1.98 million scheduled flights arriving at or departing from UK airports. This represents a 4.3% increase from 2023 and puts the sector at 91.2% of pre-pandemic flight levels.
Departing seat capacity from UK airports increased by 5.9% year-on-year, reaching 99.8% of 2019 levels. The most popular international destinations for UK travellers in 2024 included Amsterdam, Dublin, and Dubai, with European leisure hotspots such as Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, and Malaga also featuring in the top 10.
Government’s Heathrow Expansion Plan
With demand for air travel at an all-time high, the UK government has thrown its support behind the long-delayed third runway project at Heathrow. Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that the expansion is critical for boosting the UK’s economic growth and maintaining its global competitiveness.
The third runway, which has been a contentious issue for years, is expected to provide additional capacity to handle the increasing demand for flights. The government has assured that the project will align with environmental commitments, including efforts to reduce aviation emissions through sustainable fuels and carbon offsetting measures.
However, the plan has faced opposition from environmental groups and local communities, who argue that increased air traffic will contribute to pollution and noise levels. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has reiterated his opposition to the expansion, citing concerns over the project’s environmental impact.
A Global Aviation Boom
Heathrow’s record-breaking year is part of a broader surge in global air travel. In 2024, airlines worldwide offered 5.85 billion passenger seats—the highest number in history and a 6% increase on 2023. This was driven by growing demand for international travel and airlines deploying larger aircraft to accommodate more passengers.
Despite Heathrow’s growth, it remains outside the world’s most connected airports, with Istanbul taking the top spot in 2024, followed by Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
As the UK government pushes ahead with its Heathrow expansion plans, the debate over the third runway is set to intensify, balancing economic benefits with environmental concerns.
