Heathrow ended 2025 on a historic high, recording its busiest year ever as passenger numbers crossed the 84 million mark for the first time. The UK’s main hub airport also achieved its busiest December on record, with almost 7.2 million passengers travelling through its terminals during the month.
The year was marked by several milestones, including Heathrow’s busiest single day on 1 August, when more than 270,000 passengers passed through the airport. Passenger traffic outperformed 2024 levels in nine out of twelve months, reinforcing Heathrow’s position as the world’s most connected hub airport and offering travellers a wider range of destinations and flight options.
Operational performance also showed significant improvement. In December, Heathrow retained its status as Europe’s most punctual hub airport, with more than 97 percent of passengers waiting less than five minutes at security. Baggage handling efficiency improved further in 2025, with a load rate exceeding 98 percent, placing an additional quarter of a million bags on their intended flights compared to the previous year and delivering smoother journeys for both passengers and airlines.
Cargo operations reached new highs as well. Heathrow handled 138,000 tonnes of cargo in December alone, while three days during the year ranked among the airport’s top cargo-handling days on record. Overall, the volume of goods and mail carried increased by 12,600 tonnes year-on-year, strengthening Heathrow’s role as the UK’s largest port by value.
Retail activity reflected strong passenger volumes, with travellers embracing the festive season as items were sold at World Duty Free every 5.5 seconds in December.
Looking ahead, Heathrow is preparing for another strong year in 2026, with plans to invest more than £1.3 billion to further enhance customer experience and service quality.
Chief Executive Officer Thomas Woldbye said December’s record-breaking performance highlighted the sustained demand for Heathrow and the impact of improved service delivery. He noted that no other European hub airport was more punctual last year and expressed confidence in building on that success in 2026. Woldbye added that government backing for Heathrow’s expansion plans, alongside a supportive regulatory framework, would help unlock additional connectivity, trade and economic growth for the United Kingdom.
