Heathrow Airport has recorded its busiest April in history, welcoming nearly 7.1 million passengers—a milestone that marks the first time the UK’s premier hub has crossed the 7 million threshold in the month of April. The passenger surge represents a 6% increase year-on-year, driven by strong Easter holiday traffic and continued global demand for air travel through London’s primary gatew
Despite the unprecedented volume, service quality at Heathrow remained exceptionally high. The airport achieved the best departure punctuality among Europe’s major hubs, a significant accomplishment that underscores Heathrow’s operational efficiency. Additionally, 99% of checked bags were delivered on the correct flight, and 97% of passengers cleared security in under five minutes, thanks to the coordinated efforts of airport staff and partners under the Team Heathrow umbrella.
The Easter holiday proved to be a standout period, with almost 1 million travelers passing through over the long weekend alone. Easter Monday set a new arrivals record, with over 140,000 passengers touching down in a single day. Leisure travel to Italy was especially strong, with record-breaking weekends for destinations like Florence and Venice.
Momentum has continued into May, with Heathrow’s flagship London-JFK route—the busiest long-haul route globally—reaching 1 million passengers for the year faster than ever before. This further solidifies Heathrow’s reputation as the best-connected European airport to North America.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye expressed pride in the team’s performance, stating, “Last month showed Heathrow at its very best – we successfully navigated our busiest April ever whilst our service levels took a further leap forward. We’re providing great value for our passengers and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in collaboration with our Team Heathrow partners so far this year. We’re now firmly focused on the busy summer ahead and work is underway across the airport to ensure we continue delivering for our customers.”
With summer travel demand expected to climb further, Heathrow’s strong performance sets the tone for what could be a record-breaking year in both volume and service excellence.
