Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Heathrow passenger numbers fell 82% in March

Aerospace

Heathrow passenger numbers fell 82% in March

Heathrow has announced that passenger numbers at the airport fell by 82.6% (year-on-year) in March.

Image courtesy Heathrow

Heathrow’s cargo volumes are also down, by 25.7% on an annual basis. However, cargo
movements have increased by 21.4% compared with March 2020.

Traffic Summary

             
               
 

March 2021

         
               
 

Terminal Passengers
(000s)

 Mar
2021

%
Change

 Jan
  to
  Mar 2021

%
Change

 Apr 2020
  to
  Mar 2021

%
Change

 

Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

 58

-72.1

 166

-81.9

 712

-84.9

 

EU

 140

-84.0

 45

-90.3

  3,915

-85.0

 

Non-EU Europe

  48

-78.1

 126

-88.3

  830

-84.8

 

Africa

  60

-68.2

  191

-75.7

 553

-83.8

 

North America

  52

-92.7

  181

-94.4

 826

-95.5

 

Latin America

  5

-93.9

   21

-93.2

 146

-89.1

 

Middle East

 66

-81.4

   255

-84.2

 1,100

-85.5

 

Asia / Pacific

 113

-75.9

   295

-86.3

 1,059

-90.2

 

Total

 542

-82.6

  1,680

-88.5

 9,142

-88.2

               
               
 

Air Transport Movements

 Mar
2021

%
Change

Jan to
Mar 2021

%
Change

Apr 2020 to
Mar 2021

%
Change

 

Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

731

-67.3

 2,120

-76.0

8,465

-79.4

 

EU

2,037

-81.0

 6,135

-85.3

46,831

-76.8

 

Non-EU Europe

515

-78.8

 1,577

-83.5

8,956

-78.7

 

Africa

599

-37.0

 1,747

-50.2

5,697

-61.5

 

North America

2,342

-50.1

6,306

-63.9

23,524

-71.2

 

Latin America

96

-78.2

 320

-77.1

1,883

-68.0

 

Middle East

1,131

-38.0

 3,412

-50.8

13,113

-56.4

 

Asia / Pacific

1,964

-22.0

 5,165

-46.5

 20,073

-55.5

 

Total

 9,415

-63.4

 26,782

-72.9

 128,542

-72.2

               
               
 

Cargo
(Metric Tonnes)

 Mar
2021

%
Change

Jan to
Mar 2021

%
Change

Apr 2020 to
Mar 2021

%
Change

 

Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

 10

  -79.7

 57

  -60.0

 158

-72.7

 

EU

 11,303

  88.4

 29,132

  54.8

 86,402

-4.2

 

Non-EU Europe

 5,663

  144.6

 16,906

  96.1

 54,341

6.0

 

Africa

 8,064

  31.7

 22,619

  12.2

 71,645

-20.0

 

North America

 42,788

  11.0

 103,782

  -19.5

 361,556

-33.0

 

Latin America

 1,359

  -64.2

 3,230

  -71.2

 25,784

-50.2

 

Middle East

 18,432

  4.1

52,830

  -8.5

 206,728

-19.3

 

Asia / Pacific

 34,854

  32.4

87,390

  0.4

 318,375

-26.9

 

Total

 122,474

  21.4

 315,945

  -5.0

1,124,989

-25.7

 

Advertisement
Gulfstream banner
GE Aerospace to expand UK and European production capacity

Aerospace

GE Aerospace to expand UK and European production capacity

19 March 2026

GE Aerospace plans to invest more than €110 million across its European manufacturing sites this year as it looks to expand production capacity, accelerate advanced manufacturing and strengthen delivery, including significant investment in the upgrade of multiple sites across the UK.

Boeing hosts UK supplier trade mission

Aerospace

Boeing hosts UK supplier trade mission

19 March 2026

Boeing has hosted its fifth UK supplier trade mission in Seattle, welcoming a new cohort of UK suppliers over two days for briefings, factory tours and targeted business meetings aimed at boosting opportunities for future collaboration.

Air Charter Scotland to continue Wick-Aberdeen-Wick PSO route to August

Aerospace

Air Charter Scotland to continue Wick-Aberdeen-Wick PSO route to August

19 March 2026

Air Charter Scotland have been successful in their bid to continue operating the Wick-Aberdeen-Wick Public Service Obligation (PSO) route, through to 14th August, 2026.

Anti-drone tech patents surge

Aerospace Defence Security

Anti-drone tech patents surge

19 March 2026

The number of patent applications for anti-drone (counter-UAV) technologies filed globally increased by 27% to 126 last year*, up from 99 the year before, according to new research from intellectual property (IP) law firm Mathys & Squire.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Marshall Aerospace secures five SAIL Mark projects

Aerospace Defence Security

Marshall Aerospace secures five SAIL Mark projects

18 March 2026

Marshall Aerospace is advancing its expertise in the UK’s fast-growing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sector after securing five separate SAIL Mark assessment projects funded by Innovate UK and the Department for Transport.

Jet Zero Taskforce’s first annual report launched at SSWS

Aerospace Events

Jet Zero Taskforce’s first annual report launched at SSWS

18 March 2026

The UK Government and aviation industry yesterday set out significant progress towards decarbonising air travel, as Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Decarbonisation Keir Mather MP launched the Jet Zero Taskforce’s first annual report at the Sustainable Skies World Summit (SSWS).

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner