Business and traffic commentary Sept 2025

Heathrow

13 October 2025

 

Heathrow Beats September Records, Proving Operational Strength

·      Heathrow welcomed nearly 7.4 million passengers last month, making it our busiest September ever and rounding off a record-breaking summer. It's a clear sign that Heathrow is the UK's hub for global travel.

·      Even with the unexpected Collins Aerospace IT issue that impacted airline systems across Europe, our teams worked tirelessly to ensure passengers got away on their well-earned holidays without cancellations. This reflects our deep commitment to smooth, stress-free journeys and highlights the vital role a single integrated operator plays in keeping everything running when it matters most.

·      We remained Europe's most punctual hub and reached a major milestone in global connectivity, being named the most connected airport in the world for the third consecutive year. Security performance also remained consistent, with 95% of passengers waiting less than five minutes in security, underscoring our focus on efficiency and customer experience.

·      As the UK's largest port by value, we helped drive over £215 billion in trade last year, connecting businesses to global markets and reinforcing our position as one of the country's biggest economic contributors and our £1.3bn investment plan for the coming year will continue to deliver on what our customers say matters most - better service, operational resilience, and growth for both airlines and UK businesses.

·      We also announced plans for a 100% privately financed, wider and safer stretch of motorway at one of the busiest junctions on the M25 as part of our third runway development. The new section will be built 'offline', 130 metres to the west, minimising disruption for motorists and improving long-term infrastructure resilience.

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said:

"This summer at Heathrow was one to be celebrated. Operating Europe's largest airport doesn't come without its challenges, but I'm proud that our team delivered under pressure - welcoming nearly 7.4 million passengers in September alone while maintaining strong performance in punctuality and security. We continued to lead the pack in global connectivity, all while keeping the passenger experience smooth for millions. It's a clear sign that Heathrow is vital to the UK's economic growth and why we will continue to invest in our airport - opening up even more opportunities for passengers, airlines, and the country."

September 2025
Terminal Passengers (000s)	Sep 2025	% Change	Jan to Sep 2025	% Change	Oct 2024 to Sep 2025	% Change
Market
UK	383	1.2	3,383	-2.2	4,589	0.6
EU	2,599	2.5	21,381	0.6	28,230	2.0
Non-EU Europe	459	-1.9	4,170	-2.7	5,535	-1.8
Africa	277	5.1	2,481	0.3	3,326	-1.4
North America	1,859	-0.6	15,572	-0.1	20,607	0.7
Latin America	165	-3.8	1,622	0.6	2,211	3.7
Middle East	702	-0.7	6,419	1.4	8,631	2.4
Asia / Pacific	904	1.2	8,248	2.3	10,936	3.3
Total	7,348	0.8	63,275	0.3	84,065	1.5
Air Transport Movements	Sep 2025	% Change	Jan to Sep 2025	% Change	Oct 2024 to Sep 2025	% Change
Market
UK	2,893	-1.3	27,541	1.7	37,605	5.3
EU	18,090	1.7	157,967	1.6	208,860	1.9
Non-EU Europe	3,090	-6.8	29,666	-5.5	39,550	-5.4
Africa	1,157	0.7	11,059	0.1	14,998	-0.3
North America	8,197	2.4	69,522	0.7	91,548	-0.1
Latin America	644	-5.8	6,602	-1.7	9,038	1.2
Middle East	2,534	-1.9	23,075	0.4	30,843	1.5
Asia / Pacific	3,588	1.8	32,586	0.8	43,494	0.6
Total	40,193	0.5	358,018	0.6	475,936	0.9
Cargo (Metric Tonnes)	Sep 2025	% Change	Jan to Sep 2025	% Change	Oct 2024 to Sep 2025	% Change
Market
UK	35	11.7	496	21.7	619	22.8
EU	5,684	-6.7	53,581	-16.6	74,859	-18.0
Non-EU Europe	3,531	6.9	30,722	2.1	40,840	0.4
Africa	7,573	-8.3	69,138	0.6	96,635	5.7
North America	50,134	-4.0	483,131	7.2	657,269	8.7
Latin America	4,315	-1.7	42,720	5.7	57,990	7.2
Middle East	20,794	-2.8	188,261	-4.5	259,941	-4.2
Asia / Pacific	32,571	2.3	306,970	1.6	413,042	1.6
Total	124,637	-2.3	1,175,019	1.8	1,601,195	2.6

 

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