Heathrow recorded its busiest ever calendar year in 2012, with just under 70 million passengers passing through its terminals.
The results are up 0.9 per cent on 2011, helped by a record 5.6 million passengers passing through the airport in December, an increase of 2 per cent on the previous year.
The figures were driven by a 3.2 per cent increase in North Atlantic traffic, along with more services to South America (up 21.6 per cent), and a 3.4 per cent rise in traffic to the Middle East and central Asia.
Africa and India fared less well, with traffic down 5.7 and 3.4 per cent respectively, while European traffic increased by only 0.5 per cent.
With Heathrow operating at over 99 per cent capacity, the record figures have mainly come from increased load factors (up from 75.2 to 75.6 per cent), and an increase in the number of seats per aircraft (up from an average of 194.8 to 197.4).
In April last year Heathrow announced it has passed 70 million passengers over a 12-month period for the first time.
Heathrow chief executive Colin Matthews said: “The figures for 2012 show Heathrow is delivering higher passenger numbers despite a tough economic climate.
“At the same time passenger satisfaction reached record levels. Over the next twelve months we will continue to improve the passenger experience and focus on our investment programme, as we move towards completion of the new Terminal 2.”
Heathrow will open its new Terminal 2 next year, with Star Alliance carriers set to use the facility, along with Aer Lingus and Virgin’s domestic services.
heathrowairport.com