Business and traffic commentary Nov 2023

Heathrow

11 December 2023

 

Thanksgiving and Diwali celebrations deliver Heathrow a November passenger boost

§ 6.1 million passengers travelled through Heathrow during November, swapping frosty mornings for winter sun and reuniting with friends and family to spend holiday festivities together

§ Traffic to North America peaked ahead of Thanksgiving with over 50,000 passengers flying across the Atlantic from Heathrow on the Friday before the holiday. Similarly, departures to India proved popular as passengers took advantage of the 15 daily flights to India that Heathrow serves to celebrate Diwali with their loved ones

§ While around 220 flights depart or arrive from the USA to Heathrow every day, one particular flight in November made history. On 28 November, the first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel powered transatlantic flight departed Heathrow to New York, a pioneering moment for the UK aviation industry, which has its sights firmly set on achieving net zero by 2050

§ Toronto, Singapore and Chicago all joined the 'millionaire' club in November with over a million passengers travelling on those routes so far in 2023. Lisbon, San Francisco and Edinburgh are all in the running to achieve this same milestone, an accolade set to be reached by over 20 routes operating at Heathrow by the end of the year

§ A strong December is forecast with departure numbers predicted to peak in the week before Christmas Day. With 47 Christmas trees adorning the terminals, local choirs carolling and a festive ballet performance welcoming arriving passengers, Heathrow has got the festive season off to the best start

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said:

"For so many, holidays and cultural festivities are all about spending quality time with friends and family. Last month saw passengers travelling to celebrate Thanksgiving and Diwali with their loved ones, and we are making final preparations for the Christmas getaway. We need to protect these benefits of aviation in a world without carbon, which the history making 100% SAF transatlantic flight proved is possible. Now we need collaboration between Industry and Government who both have critical deliveries, to scale up SAF production to make 100% SAF flights an everyday reality."

November 2023
Terminal Passengers (000s)	Nov 2023	% Change	Jan to Nov 2023	% Change	Dec 2022 to Nov 2023	% Change
Market
UK	384	7.8	3,885	28.1	4,208	29.2
EU	1,997	7.7	24,050	23.7	25,901	27.8
Non-EU Europe	407	8.7	4,842	20.5	5,271	24.6
Africa	281	4.9	3,290	28.1	3,601	31.6
North America	1,439	7.7	18,349	31.6	19,803	34.3
Latin America	164	3.2	1,879	21.0	2,050	22.9
Middle East	668	12.3	7,274	16.3	7,964	18.2
Asia / Pacific	787	28.0	8,885	83.7	9,598	86.8
Total	6,127	10.2	72,452	30.2	78,395	33.4
Air Transport Movements	Nov 2023	% Change	Jan to Nov 2023	% Change	Dec 2022 to Nov 2023	% Change
Market
UK	3,001	8.2	29,580	20.7	32,207	21.0
EU	16,270	9.2	179,557	18.3	193,875	20.0
Non-EU Europe	3,409	5.1	36,311	18.7	39,549	21.0
Africa	1,306	5.9	14,174	16.1	15,529	17.5
North America	7,010	8.4	83,953	24.1	90,475	25.3
Latin America	703	4.6	7,961	16.4	8,706	16.9
Middle East	2,418	11.6	27,352	18.2	29,773	18.4
Asia / Pacific	3,473	19.1	37,410	44.9	40,504	43.3
Total	37,590	9.4	416,298	21.5	450,618	22.7
Cargo (Metric Tonnes)	Nov 2023	% Change	Jan to Nov 2023	% Change	Dec 2022 to Nov 2023	% Change
Market
UK	40	24.0	582	44.7	588	21.7
EU	9,674	15.5	87,270	-11.5	95,310	-12.0
Non-EU Europe	3,591	-5.7	37,619	-1.7	41,307	-5.9
Africa	8,109	28.5	70,635	-4.8	77,159	-6.9
North America	51,645	10.0	493,392	-3.3	539,618	-3.4
Latin America	4,773	13.9	46,248	16.7	50,158	17.3
Middle East	25,407	22.6	237,587	8.5	257,073	7.6
Asia / Pacific	33,079	12.8	323,960	6.3	350,932	2.4
Total	136,318	13.9	1,297,294	0.9	1,412,144	-0.4

 

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