Busiest Ever July for Heathrow, Manchester, and Stansted Airports

In a historic achievement, Heathrow Airport has surpassed 1.8 million passengers in a week for three consecutive weeks leading up to July 2024. This surge in air travel follows former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's initiative to halve Air Passenger Duty on domestic flights, encouraging a shift from rail to air travel. Heathrow's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, expressed optimism, stating that the airport is on track to serve eight million passengers in a single month, a record-breaking goal. The increase in passenger numbers comes amid ongoing discussions about the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme, which currently affects transit passengers from seven Middle Eastern countries. Heathrow's data indicates that the ETA requirement may be deterring approximately 15,000 travelers each month. The previous government had planned to extend ETA requirements to all short-stay visitors by the end of 2024, but this initiative has been paused under the Labour administration, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reviewing its future. Meanwhile, the Manchester Airports Group reported record passenger numbers for July, marking it as the busiest month ever for Manchester Airport and the busiest July for London Stansted. Manchester Airport's rolling 12-month passenger total reached 29.6 million, surpassing Stansted by half a million. Security wait times at these airports remain efficient, with only three percent of Manchester passengers waiting over 15 minutes, compared to one percent at Stansted and no delays at East Midlands. Overall, the aviation sector is experiencing significant growth, with government policies playing a crucial role in shaping travel patterns and enhancing competitiveness within the industry.