The number of passengers at Heathrow will triple by 2022

The number of passengers flying through London’s main airport, Heathrow, more than tripled last year, thanks to the airline’s strong recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The UK’s largest airport handled a total of 61.6 million passengers, compared to 19.4 million in 2021. However, the airport has yet to recover from the crisis, with Heathrow handling a record 81 million passengers in 2019.

Heathrow does not mention that this has shown stronger growth than all other airports in the world. Incidentally, like many other airports in Europe, Heathrow had to face problems due to staff shortages and strikes by baggage handlers and ground staff, among other things. To cope with crowds and staff shortages, Heathrow, like Schiphol, has put a cap on the number of passengers.

John Holland-Kaye, CEO of the airport and home of British Airways, talks about a year of recovery and says this year will be the year of renewal. Earlier this month, he announced he was stepping down as CEO after nine years. London Heathrow, along with Schiphol, Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle, is one of the largest airports in Western Europe.