Heathrow Airport Reports 300,000 Drop in Q1 Passengers After March Power Outage

Heathrow Airport experienced a drop of 300,000 passengers in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year, primarily due to a major power outage caused by a substation fire on March 21 that resulted in the cancellation of over 1,400 flights and disrupted travel for around 250,000 people. Despite this setback, the airport reported that overall demand remained strong, with expectations to surpass 2024’s record passenger numbers by the end of the year. Revenue rose by 2.1%, driven by increased long-haul travel and improved property and retail income, and punctuality improved with a higher percentage of flights departing and arriving on time. However, both average aircraft size and load factors declined slightly, with three fewer passengers per flight compared to last year. The airport is optimistic about future growth, planning to add nine new routes this summer and continuing work on expanding capacity, including a proposed third runway. Two reviews into the March power outage are expected to report initial findings in May.