Strong passenger growth from Mexico, China, Turkey and the Middle East has helped Heathrow to record another record-breaking month.
The airport catered for 5.18 million passengers during February, which was up by 4.5 per cent on the same month in 2015. Although this was only an increase of 1.2 per cent when the effect of this year’s leap day on February 29 is taken into account.
Passenger growth to Mexico rose by 21 per cent, while there was also an increase of 14 per cent to China, and 6 per cent to both Turkey and the Middle East.
East Asia as a region benefited from the launch of Vietnam Airlines’ flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, following the carrier’s switch of UK airports from Gatwick to Heathrow.
This momentum is set to be maintained when Garuda Indonesia also switches from Gatwick to Heathrow at the end of this month.
Heathrow used its latest monthly record to continue the call to be allowed to add a third runway, as recommended by the independent Airports Commission in its final report last year.
The government has put the decision off until at least this summer to carry out further research on the potential environmental impact of a new runway at either Heathrow or Gatwick.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “Long-haul routes from Heathrow support British exporters up and down the country - with businesses trading up to 20 times more with markets where we have a daily direct flight.
“This month, we’ve seen a big boost in exports to Latin America and east Asia. With an expanded Heathrow, Britain can do even better. We’ll open up 40 new trading links and supercharge British trade with the fastest growing markets of the world.”