Heathrow records busiest-ever day as passengers jet off for summer holidays
In total, 270,869 passengers went through the west London airport on 1 August.
It came after a month in which it saw almost no growth in passenger numbers, which executives said was due to capacity constraints.
The UK's busiest airport said that 7,981,137 passengers flew in and out of the terminals in July.
That is compared with 7,980,455 during July 2024.
Across the first seven months of 2025, the airport has recorded year-on-year growth of just 0.2 per cent, with its two runways being used at almost full capacity.
Heathrow unveiled plans to build a third full-length runway last week.
It said that this would enable an additional 276,000 flights per year, from the current 480,000 to 756,000.
In January, Chancellor Rachel Reeves threw her backing behind the £20bn infrastructure project in an attempt to kickstart growth in the UK.
The chancellor hopes the project - which the government aims to complete by 2035 - will boost growth in Britain, as the economy teeters on the brink of recession.
Heathrow believes it is possible to meet the Government's ambition of securing planning consent by 2029 and the new runway being operational within a decade.
It also claimed to be 'Europe's most punctual major hub', ahead of Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, Madrid and Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Heathrow chief executive Thomas Woldbye said: 'It's that time of year when everyone is looking forward to their well-earned summer breaks, and Heathrow is proud to play our part in delivering smooth and reliable journeys.
'We continue to break records as Europe's largest and most punctual hub – adding value for our airline partners and passengers.
'To build on this success, we've set out a 100 per cent privately financed plan to expand Heathrow, deliver extraordinary service, create wider and better choices for our customers, and grow the UK economy.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
21 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Goodchild excited to race on home waters in The Ocean Race Europe
The 35-year-old, who lives in France but calls Falmouth home, is representing Team Biotherm in the 4,500-nautical mile multi-stage offshore race which began in Kiel this week and ends in Montenegro on September 20. The opening leg of the contest docks in Portsmouth on August 14, with the race departing from the Royal Yacht Squadron for leg two three days later. 'I'm definitely excited,' said Goodchild, who is joined in the boat by skipper Paul Meilhat, co-skipper Amelie Grassi, Jack Bouttell and Gauthier Le Boc. 'I have spent a lot of my racing life in France, as that is where the offshore racing world is based, but bringing these really cool boats which we sail around the world into Portsmouth is really exciting. 'I will catch up with some old faces and show them what we do, so I'm really looking forward to it and I am hoping there will be a good turnout!' Sam Goodchild will race in The Ocean Race Europe with Team Biotherm (Image: The Ocean Race Europe) Goodchild is one of seven Brits competing in the race this year but there are no UK-based teams, something he hopes can soon change. 'I enjoy France but I live out there for work,' he said. 'I have been over there for the last 10 years for sailing. 'I come back regularly and I still consider the UK home but being over there helps my career the most. 'If we can have more interest in sailing, more people sailing and more British sailors on the start line, that is definitely the direction I want it to go in.' Goodchild was part of the crew who finished second in The Ocean Race two years ago, a worldwide event. He feels he learned plenty from that experience as he targets success this time around. 'Two years ago, it was my first time sailing those sorts of boats so it was a learning curve,' he said. 'The race lasted six months as opposed to six weeks so it was a bit more of an endurance. 'This time, I have been racing in these sorts of boats for the last three or four years non-stop, which changes the whole scenario, so I am looking forward to the challenge. 'Of the seven crews here, they all have good sailors on and the level of competition will be very high, which is what we are looking for.' Sustainability is one of the key aspects of The Ocean Race Europe and it is also a topic close to the heart of Goodchild, who is aware of the impact taking part in a sport he loves can have on the climate. 'The whole team makes an effort as to what we can do to reduce our impact,' he said. 'We travel around Europe, which isn't great, but we try and do it by train, which takes a bit longer but it is nicer and more interesting. "In partnership with the Tara Foundation, we have also installed a microscope on board to capture microplankton for use by scientists (Eco Taxa Database), who then use and analyse the data. 'It is a big part of our sport at the moment, what we can do to reduce our impact, so we all have to do our bit.' Seven international teams, seven stopovers, 4,500 nautical miles, racing for the ocean. The Ocean Race Europe comes to Portsmouth 14 - 17 August - the city where the race first began in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race.
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Torrential rains shut down flights at Mexico City airport for second day
Torrential rains have forced Mexico City 's main airport to shut down flights for hours for the second consecutive day, stirring chaos in one of Latin America 's busiest airports. The flight disruptions come as the Mexican capital experiences one of its heaviest rainy seasons in years, leading to constant flooding in other parts of the city. After suspending all flights for at least four hours early Tuesday, aeronautic authorities said they were able to get one runway up and running, but that vast majority of them remained out of service. Around 20,000 passengers were impacted by flight cancellations, delays and rerouting, according to airport authorities. Passengers have reported numerous cancellations and delays this week as heavy rains continue to fall on the Mexican capital. Alicia Nicanor, 69, said her Sunday flight to the northern city of Tijuana was cancelled and when she returned Tuesday morning for her early morning flight, it was also cancelled. 'I told them I have to go, because I have an important appointment with my doctor, but they didn't listen," she said. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said that heavy rains on Sunday flooded the city's main plaza, known as the Zócalo, with more than 3 inches, much of which poured down in just 20 minutes. It broke a record set in 1952. Meanwhile, videos from the city's south show floating cars on flooded streets turned into flowing rivers, even becoming the subject of internet memes. The flooding has fueled criticism by some in the capital, who say they are a sign of larger infrastructure failures by the city's government. ____
Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Reuters
Activist 7Square pushes Germany's Nuernberger to consider rival offers
FRANKFURT, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Nuernberger Beteiligungs AG ( opens new tab should consider rival takeover offers, activist investor 7Square wrote in a letter to the German insurer's board on Tuesday, stating that a potential bid by Vienna Insurance Group ( opens new tab undervalues the business. The life-insurance, property and casualty insurance divisions of Nuernberger have underperformed for years, 7Square, which holds an unspecified stake in Nuernberger, wrote in the letter seen by Reuters. Yet the group could be worth as much as 1.6 billion euros ($1.87 billion), it said. Bloomberg reported on the letter earlier on Tuesday. Nuernberger did not immediately reply to requests for comment on 7Square's letter. Vienna Insurance Group declined to comment. Shares of Nuernberger fell 0.7% in Frankfurt on Tuesday, giving it a market value of 700 million euros. Vienna Insurance Group announced last week it was in exclusive due diligence for a potential takeover of a controlling stake in the German company, without specifying a possible price. Nuernberger should end discussions with VIG and start a new sales process to explore strategic options, 7Square wrote in the letter. A sale to the Viennese company would be "extremely disadvantageous and value-destroying for shareholders," it added. Nuernberger's investors include Munich Re ( opens new tab, Hannover Re ( opens new tab, Swiss Re (SRENH.S), opens new tab and Japan's T&D Holdings (8795.T), opens new tab. "We have concrete knowledge of the interest of several strategic investors, who would be interested in acquiring the life-insurance division or the entire Nuernberger Group," 7Square wrote in the letter. 7Square is also calling on Nuernberger to lift transfer restrictions on its shares, which requires the management board to approve significant stock transactions. As Nuernberger shares are listed on Frankfurt's over-the-counter 'Scale' segment, an acquirer of a majority stake would not be required to make a mandatory offer for the remaining shares, which 7Square said would permanently reduce the value for all shareholders. 7Square advises hedge funds and activist shareholders on publicly listed German companies, occasionally investing itself. ($1 = 0.8570 euros)
