Heathrow Airport recorded a historic milestone in 2024, welcoming 83.9 million passengers, the highest in its history. Strong connectivity and a commitment to customer service contributed to a 6% annual passenger increase, while cargo volumes also saw a 10% boost, strengthening British trade worldwide. Despite continued growth prospects in 2025, constrained capacity may result in a more moderate uptick in performance.
The airport remains focused on enhancing customer experience, with improvements leading to stable security wait times, more on-time departures, and better baggage handling. Recognized as the UK’s best airport by Condé Nast and Travel Weekly, Heathrow also received “Best in Class” recognition for its retail and VIP services. Further enhancements are planned to improve operations and service quality in the coming year.
Despite record-breaking passenger traffic, total revenue declined by 4% to £3.6 billion, while adjusted EBITDA fell to £2.0 billion, primarily due to a lower airport charge set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). In response, Heathrow is implementing cost-cutting measures and efficiency improvements to strengthen financial resilience, with liquidity standing at £3.4 billion. Following a strong business performance in 2024, the airport’s Board has approved its first dividend payment in five years, allocating £250 million to shareholders.
Heathrow is also reinforcing its commitment to sustainability with a refreshed strategy, Connecting People and Planet, introducing new targets following progress on previous environmental initiatives. In 2024, the airport launched its first-ever Nature Positive Plan, focusing on climate change and biodiversity conservation. Heathrow continued to lead the UK in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) usage, setting a 3% SAF incentive for 2025, which exceeds the UK government’s mandate by 1%. The airport also became the first in the world to commit to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), pledging to report its environmental impact annually from 2025.
As the UK’s primary gateway for economic growth, Heathrow is set to undertake the largest private investment in the country’s transport network over the next decade. Plans include modernizing existing infrastructure, enhancing customer experience, improving punctuality, expanding sustainable transport options, and strengthening environmental measures. A proposal for a third runway will be submitted to the UK Government this summer, with Heathrow actively engaging policymakers on airspace modernization, planning reform, and regulatory adjustments to ensure a successful rollout. The objective is to secure planning permission before the end of the current Parliament, aligning with government ambitions.
Reflecting on the year’s achievements and future plans, Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye stated, “2024 underscores why Heathrow is the UK’s gateway to growth. Our colleagues welcomed a record number of passengers with good service, cargo volumes increased by 10%, boosting British trade, and we invested over £1 billion to improve facilities and enhance resilience, creating more value for customers at Britain’s front door.”
“Securing future economic growth means investing in the infrastructure that powers it. Over the next decade, we will be making the largest private investment in the UK’s transport network to modernize Heathrow and unlock new capacity. This will strengthen the economy, enhance the customer experience, and ensure the UK has a competitive, world-class hub for the future. This is an exciting time for our customers, colleagues, and the country, and we look forward to working with the Government to deliver it.”
With continued investment, sustainability initiatives, and expansion plans, Heathrow is positioning itself as a leading global aviation hub for the future.
