Summary

  • London Heathrow Airport saw a total of 6.9 million passengers in October 2023, making it the world’s fourth-busiest airport for international travel.
  • Popular destinations from London Heathrow included New York, Dubai, and Los Angeles, with multiple airlines offering a variety of choices.
  • Passenger numbers in 2023 have seen a significant increase compared to the previous year, with a 32% rise so far and a 38% increase on a rolling 12-month basis. The airport is now gearing up for a busy holiday season.


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A total of 6.9 million passengers traveled through London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in October 2023, making it the world’s fourth-busiest airport for international passenger traffic. Of the almost 7 million passengers, 2.7 million were headed to Europe and 1.8 million to North America, with a further 850,000 flying to Asia-Pacific and 680,000 to the Middle East.

London Heathrow aerial view

Photo: maxrob27 | Shutterstock

Passenger numbers spiked during the October half-term school holiday at the end of the month, when 2.2 million were seen in one week alone. Popular destinations included New York (JFK), Dubai (DXB), and Los Angeles (LAX). Those three airports are served by five, four, and five airlines respectively from London Heathrow, offering passengers plenty of choice for their journey.


A bumper year so far

October’s figures bring the total number of passengers at London Heathrow in 2023 so far to 66.3 million, representing a 32% increase on the same period last year. When looking at data on a rolling 12-month basis, the figure rises to 77.8 million (November 2022 to October 2023), which is 38% higher than the previous 12 months.

In a further boost to its passenger statistics, the airport will see the second-highest number of Airbus A380 flights this winter, with 150 weekly services operated by the superjumbo. Unsurprisingly, Dubai International Airport, home to Emirates, will see the highest number, with more than 500 weekly A380 flights.

Emirates Airbus A380 at London Heathrow

Photo: Plane Photography | Shutterstock

Also in October, Hong Kong (HKG) became the latest destination from London Heathrow to see more than one million passengers so far this year, following the full reopening of its borders. New York (JFK), Dubai (DXB), and Doha (DOH) are among the eleven other routes to have already surpassed this figure.

Gearing up for a busy holiday season.

A busy October will have been good preparation for the upcoming holiday season – while November is traditionally a quiet month for air travel, the airport will see another spike in passenger numbers come December. After only a couple of weeks in the role, London Heathrow’s new CEO, Thomas Woldbye, spoke about what passengers might expect at the airport over the coming weeks, saying,

“We look forward to welcoming passengers from across the world over the upcoming festive season with a friendly face to lend a helping hand. If your journey sees you traveling through Heathrow we’ve got you covered, from attractive shops to meet your gifting needs to restaurants for all the family, we will ensure a seamless start to your holiday plans.” 

LATAM Boeing 787-9

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Among the new routes for the winter from London Heathrow will be the UK’s only direct connection to Peru, with LATAM’s service to Lima (LIM). The airline will deploy its Boeing 787s on the route five times per week from December 2nd. This new connection to South America will bring the total number of destinations served from the airport to 239, spread across 89 countries.

A Look At LATAM’s Long-Haul Network

What do you think of the latest passenger statistics from London Heathrow? Did you travel through the airport in October? Let us know by commenting below.

  • heathrow_17581988126223

    London Heathrow Airport

    IATA/ICAO Code:
    LHR-EGLL

    Country:
    United Kingdom

    CEO:
    John Holland-Kaye

    Passenger Count :
    19,392,178 (2021)

    Runways :
    09L/27R – 3,902m (12,802ft) |09R/27L – 3,660m (12,008ft)

    Terminals:
    Terminal 2 |Terminal 3 |Terminal 4 |Terminal 5

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