Heathrow sees strong start to 2023
Image courtesy Heathrow
During the half term and Easter holidays, contingency plans kept the airport running smoothly throughout a period of industrial action over the Easter peak.
Heathrow remains loss-making and does not forecast any dividends in 2023. It has not yet returned to profit with Adjusted losses of £139 million in Q1.
To make the UK more competitive for overseas visitors versus the EU, Heathrow is urging Ministers remove the ‘tourist tax’ of VAT on shopping which will drive more spend in shops, restaurants and attractions across Britain.
John Holland-Kaye, CEO, Heathrow said: “Twenty twenty-three has got off to a strong start and I'm proud of the way colleagues are working together to deliver great passenger service every day. We are building our route network to connect all of Britain to the growing markets of the world – now we need the government to lure international visitors back to the UK by scrapping the ‘tourist tax’.”
Supporting the UK’s competitiveness, Heathrow has worked to better connect all of the UK to global markets, with Loganair taking advantage of a domestic charges discount to open up new routes to Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as opening up connections to 10 Chinese cities as borders reopen. Frequencies to Beijing and Shanghai will increase to twice daily before the summer.
Heathrow is the first airport to achieve science-based validation from the SBTi for its 2030 carbon reduction goals. As the global aviation sector starts to decarbonise, Heathrow is urging the government to move faster to bring production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel onshore, increasing energy security and creating skilled green jobs in levelling up areas.
Passengers can expect to travel as normal during the Coronation and half term peaks, regardless of any further strike action by Unite and Heathrow is working with partners on further improvements to service, such as Border Force’s successful trial of extending eGates to 10+ year-olds over Easter.
