General Atomics

Heathrow welcomes over six million passengers in March

In March, Heathrow welcomed more than 6.2 million passengers, a slight decline on 2024 due to the timing of Ramadan and a later Easter this year which both impact travel patterns, along with a 10-hour closure due to a power supply failure caused by the major fire at National Grid and SSEN’s North Hyde substation.



Image courtesy Heathrow

Heathrow continues to facilitate UK trade growth handling over 144,000 tonnes of cargo in March 2025 – including a strong 4% year-on-year increase in cargo flown in the belly hold of passenger flights. Projections show Mother’s Day flowers were particularly popular, with an estimated 2,800 tonnes of flowers coming in just before the celebrations.   

Eight new and resumed routes will be joining Heathrow’s expansive lineup.  The new offerings from Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada and British Airways include connections to the capital cities of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Canada (Ottawa) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur).  

Heathrow passengers can now travel to the cities of four UNESCO World Heritage sites, across three continents, including Canada’s Rideau Canal (Ottawa), Santiago de Compostela’s Old Town, the Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna (Rimini) and Georgia’s Historic Monuments of Mtskheta (Tbilisi), making it the first time a flight from Heathrow has been routed for Tbilisi in the last 10 years.

Looking ahead, the airport anticipates an increase in passengers over the next few months as many people plan to reunite with loved ones during the Easter period and take advantage of the May bank holidays.

Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow CEO, said: “It’s great to see strong demand to travel through Heathrow. Whilst passenger numbers were slightly down due to changing holidays this year, belly hold cargo on passenger flights was a bright spot growing 4% and underlining the importance of Heathrow as the UK’s gateway to growth.

"We are still on track to see another record year in 2025 and colleagues are working hard preparing for a busy Easter and May Bank Holiday getaway.”

Related

Doncaster Sheffield Airport set for public ownership in landmark SYMCA deal
Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Doncaster Sheffield Airport set for public ownership in landmark SYMCA deal
Doncaster Sheffield Airport could return to public ownership under a proposed SYMCA acquisition of the airport and Innovation Quarter land, supporting its reopening and the region’s wider Airport City ambitions.
Aerospace

21 Oct 2026

GKN Aerospace and IAAPS demo aircraft fuel cell
GKN Aerospace and IAAPS demo aircraft fuel cell
GKN Aerospace and IAAPS demo aircraft fuel cell
GKN Aerospace and IAAPS have successfully tested energy storage and integrated fuel cell power generation systems through H2GEAR, an Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) funded programme developing hydrogen electric propulsion for future aircraft.
Aerospace Member News

20 Oct 2026

RAF Hawk T2 took off with “missing fuel cap”, report claims
Royal Air Force Hawk T2 advanced jet trainer
RAF Hawk T2 took off with “missing fuel cap”, report claims
The inquiry into last September's Hawk T2 crash near RAF Valley is ongoing.
Aerospace Defence

20 Oct 2026

First Light Fusion selected by Dstl for landmark hypervelocity impact research programme
First Light Fusion
First Light Fusion selected by Dstl for landmark hypervelocity impact research programme
The Oxford-based company will generate data on how graphite behaves under extreme impact conditions, using facilities originally developed to support its fusion energy ambitions.
Defence Member News

21 Oct 2026

RAF to deploy Typhoons to defend Saudi Arabia against escalating Houthi attacks
Two RAF Typhoon FGR4s conduct a routine mission over the Middle East in support of Operation Shader on 13 November 2024. Image: MOD Crown Copyright/Cpl Nathan Edwards
RAF to deploy Typhoons to defend Saudi Arabia against escalating Houthi attacks
The RAF will deploy Typhoon FGR4 fighters to Saudi Arabia in a bid to reinforce the kingdom’s air defences against escalating Houthi drone and missile attacks, expanding the UK’s ongoing defensive military support to the region.
Defence

20 Oct 2026

More than 60 defence firms showcase export-ready capabilities at MOD-backed event
Image: MOD Crown Copyright
More than 60 defence firms showcase export-ready capabilities at MOD-backed event
International delegations from over 20 countries attended MES 26, where more than 60 British defence firms demonstrated military engineering capabilities spanning demining, force protection and survivability.
Defence Security

20 Oct 2026

Newquay could host twice-daily space flights under new plan
Aurora - Flight 61, Scout Space - High Altitude
Newquay could host twice-daily space flights under new plan
Spaceport Cornwall and Dawn Aerospace are exploring plans to bring reusable spaceplane operations to Newquay, with ambitions for twice-daily flights to the edge of space.
Aerospace Space

20 Oct 2026

Space war could emerge within five years as satellite threats grow, expert warns
United Kingdom backs new space strategy with £7.8 billion to counter orbital threats and strengthen satellite capabilities
Space war could emerge within five years as satellite threats grow, expert warns
A military conflict in space could emerge within the next five years as countries…
Security Space

20 Oct 2026

Viasat orders ALL.​SPACE Hydra MAX Terminals for Ka-band networks
ALL.SPACE Hydra
Viasat orders ALL.​SPACE Hydra MAX Terminals for Ka-band networks
Viasat has placed an order for multiple ALL.​SPACE Hydra MAX terminals approved to operate on Viasat's global NextGen Ka-band network, providing resilient SATCOM connectivity for defence and government users.
Defence Member News Space

15 Oct 2026

More than 60 defence firms showcase export-ready capabilities at MOD-backed event
Image: MOD Crown Copyright
More than 60 defence firms showcase export-ready capabilities at MOD-backed event
International delegations from over 20 countries attended MES 26, where more than 60 British defence firms demonstrated military engineering capabilities spanning demining, force protection and survivability.
Defence Security

20 Oct 2026

Space war could emerge within five years as satellite threats grow, expert warns
United Kingdom backs new space strategy with £7.8 billion to counter orbital threats and strengthen satellite capabilities
Space war could emerge within five years as satellite threats grow, expert warns
A military conflict in space could emerge within the next five years as countries…
Security Space

20 Oct 2026

UK targets faster defence procurement as Streeting calls for industrial overhaul
The Future of U.S.-UK Defense Cooperation with UK Secretary of Defence Wes Streeting
UK targets faster defence procurement as Streeting calls for industrial overhaul
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has called for an overhaul of military procurement, setting targets to reduce contract timelines and speed up the delivery of new technologies.
Defence Security

19 Oct 2026