The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Kathryn Williams
Heathrow Airport has registered its busiest start to the year since before the Covid-19 pandemic, as it continues to bounce back from Covid-related travel restrictions.
More than 5.4 million people travelled through Britain’s biggest airport last month, which was still 650,000 below volumes in January 2020 but over double the number at the beginning of last year.
But after last summer’s travel chaos, triggered by a wave of cancellations and staff shortages at airports, holidaymakers may face more disruption with the threat of strikes at Heathrow over the Easter break.
Recovery: More than 5.4 million people came through Heathrow Airport last month, which was over double the amount that came at the beginning of last year
Passenger numbers in early 2022 were severely impacted by the Omicron variant’s emergence, which led the government to reimpose tougher rules on inbound travellers.
Demand has rebounded strongly in all markets following the lifting of those curbs, but particularly from the EU, North America, and the Asia-Pacific regions.
Heathrow said 98 per cent of customers waited less than 10 minutes to get through security in January, while total satisfaction levels were either at or higher than pre-pandemic volumes.
It added that the current February half-term holiday period, when many families head abroad for a short break, had been ‘going very well’ and hailed recent updates by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic on recommencing ticket sales to China.
Outgoing Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: ‘Heathrow is back to its best, with passenger satisfaction scores meeting or exceeding 2019 levels.
‘We are giving a warm welcome to families over the half-term getaway by delivering excellent service and bringing back the magic of travel.’
Holland-Kaye intends to step down sometime in 2023 after nine years in charge, a tenure marked by battles over a proposed third runway at the airport and the devastating impact of Covid-19, which has caused Heathrow more than £4billion in losses.
After attracting a record 80.9 million passengers in 2019, Heathrow saw customer volumes dive by 73 per cent the subsequent year as lockdowns decimated foreign tourism and business travel.
Even though demand roared back as restrictions were relaxed, employee shortages left the airport struggling to cope, causing widespread delays and cancellations for holidaymakers, especially during the last Easter and summer holidays.
Strike threat at Easter
Travellers planning to fly from the airport this Easter could also face difficulties as over 3,000 Heathrow security guards, firefighters, and engineers plan to begin voting on strike action this Friday amid a pay dispute.
Unite the union has said that its members had rejected a 10 per cent salary hike because it is lower than the current retail price inflation rate of 13.4 per cent.
Its regional co-ordinating officer Wayne King said: ‘If our members at HAL [Heathrow Airport Limited] take strike action, it will inevitably cause severe disruption throughout Heathrow with delays, disruption and cancellations of flights inevitable.
‘This dispute is of HAL’s own making. Its employees are struggling to make ends meet; HAL has the opportunity to ease their financial burden but is refusing to step up and do the right thing.
‘This isn’t about what our members want; this is about what they need for them and their families. This is about need, not greed.’
A Heathrow spokesperson said: ‘We are extremely disappointed that Unite is tabling a formal ballot for industrial action.’
