Heathrow Airport has reported continued strong demand in February, serving more than 5.7 million passengers during what is traditionally a quieter month for aviation. The figure marks the 12th consecutive month where average daily passenger numbers exceeded 200,000, making it the busiest February on record when adjusted for leap years.
The UK’s largest airport saw particularly strong growth in transatlantic travel, with a 7% increase in traffic to the United States and Canada compared to the previous year, reinforcing Heathrow’s position as Britain’s primary gateway for international connections.
Popular destinations in February included winter sun hotspots across the Caribbean, Italy, and Greece. Meanwhile, business-focused routes to global hubs including Delhi, Dubai, Mumbai, and Riyadh consistently operated with the fewest empty seats.
Despite the growing passenger numbers, Heathrow has emphasized its commitment to reducing environmental impacts. In its 2024 Sustainability Report published last week, the airport confirmed a 7.5% carbon reduction in the air and 15% on the ground since 2019, keeping it on track to meet its 2030 targets.
“Even during a traditionally quiet month for aviation in February, we saw sustained and growing demand to fly and export through Heathrow,” said Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye. “As the UK’s gateway to growth, we must meet this increase in demand and do it without compromising our strategy to decarbonise and reduce noise impacts.”
The airport is pushing ahead with sustainability initiatives, including an incentive to reach 3% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) usage this year, exceeding the Government’s target by one percentage point.
Noise reduction efforts have also shown progress, with the area exposed to higher levels of aircraft noise shrinking by 18% compared to 2019. The number of late-running flights decreased in 2024 despite record passenger volumes, and all air quality monitors around the airport continue to meet UK pollution limits.
One month after announcing plans to invest in expansion, Heathrow is developing initial proposals for privately funded growth to present to the Government this summer.
In February, the airport also launched a One Stop Security pilot program in collaboration with the Department for Transport and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration. The initiative offers streamlined transfers for passengers on selected routes from North America connecting to other global destinations, strengthening Heathrow’s position as an international hub.
