Heathrow bosses said 7.7 million passengers travelled through the airport in July, compared with 7.8 million in July 2019. PA
Heathrow bosses said 7.7 million passengers travelled through the airport in July, compared with 7.8 million in July 2019. PA
Heathrow bosses said 7.7 million passengers travelled through the airport in July, compared with 7.8 million in July 2019. PA
Heathrow bosses said 7.7 million passengers travelled through the airport in July, compared with 7.8 million in July 2019. PA

World

UK

Heathrow passenger traffic up by a fifth in July after Asia travel boost

London airport's footfall surges to near pre-pandemic levels

Marwa Hassan
Marwa Hassan

August 11, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Heathrow Airport, the largest in the UK, reported it handled 7.7 million passengers in July, a sign of a significant revival in international travel.

It is a 22 per cent increase from the 6.3 million passengers that passed through the airport in the same month last year, and just shy of the 7.8 million passengers recorded in July 2019, before the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic.

A significant portion of the surge in July's passenger traffic is attributed to an increase in the number of flights to and from Asia, a remarkable 129 per cent increase, and North America, with a 77 per cent rise.

Travel to these regions was significantly curtailed the previous year, primarily because pandemic restrictions in the two destination regions were in effect for a longer duration compared with other parts of the globe.

Heathrow also noted that July set a record for the number of passengers travelling to Turkey, with more than 73,000 choosing this destination.

There were also near-historic levels of flights headed for Portugal, Italy, and Gibraltar for the month.

The West London airport expressed satisfaction with its operational performance, revealing a “strong start to the summer season for passenger service”.

Heathrow Airport in London, the UK's busiest, has been a travel hub for decades. Here The National takes a look back at Heathrow through the years. All photos: Getty Images
Heathrow Airport in London, the UK's busiest, has been a travel hub for decades. Here The National takes a look back at Heathrow through the years. All photos: Getty Images
An Airco De Havilland biplane of the British airline, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, about to leave on the company’s inaugural flight from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, later known as Heathrow, to Le Bourget, Paris, in August 1919
An Airco De Havilland biplane of the British airline, Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited, about to leave on the company’s inaugural flight from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, later known as Heathrow, to Le Bourget, Paris, in August 1919
Waterlogged runways at London Airport - Heathrow's original name - one week before it became Britain's main aerial gateway to the US in 1946
Waterlogged runways at London Airport - Heathrow's original name - one week before it became Britain's main aerial gateway to the US in 1946
The new BOAC maintenance headquarters at London Airport circa 1955
The new BOAC maintenance headquarters at London Airport circa 1955
The air traffic control room at the airport's new terminal in 1955
The air traffic control room at the airport's new terminal in 1955
US film star Marilyn Monroe with her husband, playwright Arthur Miller, after arriving at the airport in July 1956
US film star Marilyn Monroe with her husband, playwright Arthur Miller, after arriving at the airport in July 1956
An aerial view showing the runways in 1958
An aerial view showing the runways in 1958
The arrivals and departures board in 1960
The arrivals and departures board in 1960
A new airport gift shop, selling items by Chanel, Wedgwood and Pringle of Scotland, in 1961
A new airport gift shop, selling items by Chanel, Wedgwood and Pringle of Scotland, in 1961
The Queen's Building and the No. 1 Building Europa at Heathrow in 1965
The Queen's Building and the No. 1 Building Europa at Heathrow in 1965
The Beatles leave Heathrow for Salzburg in Austria, to resume filming of the movie Help!, in 1965
The Beatles leave Heathrow for Salzburg in Austria, to resume filming of the movie Help!, in 1965
Passenger terminal gates at Heathrow in 1966
Passenger terminal gates at Heathrow in 1966
Keith Granville, managing director of BOAC, holding up a model of the Boeing 747 jet, with the new aircraft hangars under construction in the background, at Heathrow in 1969
Keith Granville, managing director of BOAC, holding up a model of the Boeing 747 jet, with the new aircraft hangars under construction in the background, at Heathrow in 1969
An aerial view of Heathrow in 1970
An aerial view of Heathrow in 1970
Passengers boarding the first BOAC Jumbo Jet 747 used for a commercial flight, from London Heathrow to New York, in 1971
Passengers boarding the first BOAC Jumbo Jet 747 used for a commercial flight, from London Heathrow to New York, in 1971
Passengers going through the departure lounge at Heathrow in 1973
Passengers going through the departure lounge at Heathrow in 1973
Concorde takes off from Heathrow on her first commercial flight for British Airways in 1976
Concorde takes off from Heathrow on her first commercial flight for British Airways in 1976
Men at work finalising the Heathrow Central underground station before its opening in 1977
Men at work finalising the Heathrow Central underground station before its opening in 1977
Queen Elizabeth II passing though the Tube gates at Heathrow Central station on its opening in 1977
Queen Elizabeth II passing though the Tube gates at Heathrow Central station on its opening in 1977
An aerial view of Heathrow in 1978
An aerial view of Heathrow in 1978
Passengers waiting near a departures board in 1979
Passengers waiting near a departures board in 1979
Holidaymakers waiting in the departure lounge at Terminal 3 of Heathrow in 1981
Holidaymakers waiting in the departure lounge at Terminal 3 of Heathrow in 1981
British Airways employees protesting at Heathrow in 1984
British Airways employees protesting at Heathrow in 1984
Passengers and staff observe a silence in Heathrow's Terminal One to mark the beginning of the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997
Passengers and staff observe a silence in Heathrow's Terminal One to mark the beginning of the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997
Rower Steve Redgrave at Heathrow with daughters Sophie and Natalie and son Zak after returning from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with his gold medal
Rower Steve Redgrave at Heathrow with daughters Sophie and Natalie and son Zak after returning from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games with his gold medal
Spectators watch the last Concorde land at Heathrow in 2003
Spectators watch the last Concorde land at Heathrow in 2003
Fans surround the coach carrying the England rugby team at Heathrow, as they arrived from Sydney after winning the World Cup in 2003
Fans surround the coach carrying the England rugby team at Heathrow, as they arrived from Sydney after winning the World Cup in 2003
Heathrow's Terminal 2 in 2004
Heathrow's Terminal 2 in 2004
Passengers queue to check in at Terminal 1 of Heathrow Airport during the Christmas 2006 and New Year period
Passengers queue to check in at Terminal 1 of Heathrow Airport during the Christmas 2006 and New Year period
Passengers wait at Terminal 1 on August 10, 2006, after airport security was raised to critical when a terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight from the UK to the US was disrupted by police
Passengers wait at Terminal 1 on August 10, 2006, after airport security was raised to critical when a terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight from the UK to the US was disrupted by police
Planes queueing to take off at Heathrow in 2007
Planes queueing to take off at Heathrow in 2007
The new Terminal 5 at Heathrow in 2008
The new Terminal 5 at Heathrow in 2008
Aircraft at Heathrow Airport in front of the London skyline in 2016
Aircraft at Heathrow Airport in front of the London skyline in 2016
Members of Team GB arrive from Rio de Janeiro at Heathrow, after returning from the 2016 Olympics, which saw Great Britain's strongest performance at the Games in over a century
Members of Team GB arrive from Rio de Janeiro at Heathrow, after returning from the 2016 Olympics, which saw Great Britain's strongest performance at the Games in over a century
A composite photo shows planes taking off from Heathrow in November 2016. Forty-two planes were captured between 10.17am and 11.17am and a montage was created from those single images
A composite photo shows planes taking off from Heathrow in November 2016. Forty-two planes were captured between 10.17am and 11.17am and a montage was created from those single images
Items are arranged during an auction preview at Heathrow in 2018. The contents of Terminal 1, which closed in 2015, were being sold
Items are arranged during an auction preview at Heathrow in 2018. The contents of Terminal 1, which closed in 2015, were being sold
An airline passenger wearing a face mask pushes her bags through Heathrow's Terminal 5 during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020
An airline passenger wearing a face mask pushes her bags through Heathrow's Terminal 5 during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020
British Airways employees welcome Olympians returning from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021
British Airways employees welcome Olympians returning from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021
Travellers wait in a long queue to pass through the security check in 2022
Travellers wait in a long queue to pass through the security check in 2022

In addition, security checks have been efficient, with queues averaging “consistently under five minutes”.

Heathrow's chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, commented on the positive trends: “It's great to see so many passengers getting away to grab some summer sun.

“We've got a great range of popular destinations, and our teams are delivering excellent service which will ensure your travels get off to the best start.”

In July, Heathrow processed almost a quarter of a million passengers daily.

While there was a marked 21.4 per cent increase in passenger numbers compared with 2020, the numbers are still slightly below pre-pandemic counts.

Heathrow's vibrant animal transit

Heathrow Airport isn't just a hub for millions of human passengers.

Every year, a vast array of animals, from snakes and starfish to dogs and horses, pass through its gates.

The Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, managed by the City of London Corporation, ensures these creatures are properly cared for during their transit, with adherence to the Pet Travel Scheme for seamless, quarantine-free travel.

A female boa constrictor at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre. All photos: PA
A female boa constrictor at the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre. All photos: PA
Each year, about 14,000 dogs and cats, 400 horses, 100,000 reptiles, 1,000 birds and 28 million fish are imported through Heathrow Airport
Each year, about 14,000 dogs and cats, 400 horses, 100,000 reptiles, 1,000 birds and 28 million fish are imported through Heathrow Airport
All animals are collected from the aircraft and taken to the airport's Animal Reception Centre for inspection
All animals are collected from the aircraft and taken to the airport's Animal Reception Centre for inspection
Animals are provided with temporary accommodation while paperwork is checked before they can be reunited with their owners
Animals are provided with temporary accommodation while paperwork is checked before they can be reunited with their owners
The centre, owned and operated by the City of London Corporation, can accommodate any animal species
The centre, owned and operated by the City of London Corporation, can accommodate any animal species
An adult white tree frog at the reception centre
An adult white tree frog at the reception centre
Chris, an animal attendant supervisor, checks on a cat at the reception centre
Chris, an animal attendant supervisor, checks on a cat at the reception centre
A pug is brought in from the airport
A pug is brought in from the airport
A clown fish arrives
A clown fish arrives
The centre works with airlines to ensure animals are well looked after and meet requirements that allow them to travel without having to quarantine
The centre works with airlines to ensure animals are well looked after and meet requirements that allow them to travel without having to quarantine
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Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')

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Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history

- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon

- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.

- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater

- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.  

- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.

- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.

-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.

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MATCH INFO

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Who is Enric Sala?

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At a glance

Fixtures All matches start at 9.30am, at ICC Academy, Dubai. Admission is free

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Updated: August 11, 2023, 10:13 AM`
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