Busy September at Heathrow Airport Despite Challenges, Plans for Expansion Underway
As-salamu alaykum! Heathrow Airport experienced its busiest September ever, with around 7.3 million passengers passing through, even though it faced a cyber attack that affected electronic check-in and boarding systems. So far this year, passenger numbers have grown by 0.3%, reaching a total of 63.3 million travelers between January and September across its four terminals. Compared to last year, there were 200,000 more passengers in September alone, with the two runways operating near full capacity.
There was notable growth in travelers heading to the Middle East, increasing by 1.4% this year, second only to the Asia-Pacific region at 2.3%. Europe and North America remain the most popular destinations. Between 2023 and 2024, passenger numbers at Heathrow increased by 4.7 million, surpassing pre-pandemic records.
In September, Heathrow and other major European airports experienced delays caused by a cyber attack on Collins Aerospace's check-in and boarding system software used by several airlines. Despite this, the airport maintained strong punctuality and security.
Capacity limits continue to challenge Heathrow, which is planning to build a full-length third runway that would allow an additional 276,000 flights annually, increasing total flights from 480,000 to 756,000. There is also an alternative proposal for a shorter third runway by an Indian businessman.
Heathrow aims to meet the UK government's goal of obtaining planning approval by 2029 and to have the new runway operational within ten years. The expansion is proposed to be privately financed at a cost of £21 billion, though concerns about potential increases in passenger fees remain.
The airport's CEO shared pride in the team's efforts during a busy summer, welcoming nearly 7.4 million passengers in September and emphasizing Heathrow's importance to the UK’s economy. The commitment to continued investment hopes to create more opportunities for travelers and the aviation industry alike.
May Allah make our travels easy and safe, and bless those working to improve services for all.
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