Overview

• Passenger volumes reached 63.3 million from January to September, a 0.3% rise that Heathrow links to runway capacity limits.
• September traffic hit nearly 7.4 million, up 0.8% year on year, despite a Collins Aerospace IT disruption affecting European airline systems.
• Heathrow outlined a full-length third runway funded privately at about £21 billion, with a goal of securing planning approval by 2029 and entering service within roughly a decade.
• The expansion would increase permitted annual movements by 276,000, taking the cap from 480,000 flights to 756,000.
• Concerns persist over potential impacts on passenger charges, even as Heathrow reports strong punctuality, rapid security processing and top global connectivity.