Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye has said the ‘longest queue’ at the airport is made up of prospective airlines.
More than 40 airlines want to operate from the London hub but are unable to due to capacity constraints, though this week China’s Xiamen Airlines became Heathrow’s newest carrier.
Thomas used the wait list to highlight Heathrow’s desire for expansion. Plans for a third runway have been submitted to the Government and a decision is expected by 2029.
Expansion would create 108,000 jobs, boost trading capacity by 50% and make travel more affordable to more destinations, according to the airport.
Thomas said: “This summer Heathrow remained Europe’s most punctual hub. The longest queue at Heathrow is now the one made up of over 40 airlines that want to better connect the UK but can’t secure a slot because our runways are full.
“Expansion is a national project that will create jobs, unlock growth and make travel more affordable. We are working with Government to deliver these benefits to every nation and region as quickly as possible.”
Thomas’s comments come as Heathrow reported its busiest day on record on 2 August, with nearly 272,000 passengers, while around 23 million passengers travelled through the airport in June to August.
The airport also reported that 98% passengers waited less than five minutes at security and and 98% saw bags depart as planned.
