Heathrow airport hits record flights in January – but airlines aren’t happy

While Heathrow saw its busiest month ever, some of the world’s biggest airlines have banded against the airport and accused it of declining quality.

A storm is brewing behind the scenes at Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport – despite a record-breaking month for the travel hub.

Airlines operating out of Heathrow, including the owner of British Airways IAG, accused the airport of ‘failing’ passengers and airlines due to inefficient regulation.

Virgin Atlantic, IAG, the Heathrow Airline Operators’ Committee (AOC) and the Arora hotel group formed a new campaign group called Heathrow Reimagined, saying they want lower charges and higher standards, the Independent reports.

Now they want the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – the UK aviation watchdog – to urgently review how Heathrow is regulated ‘for the benefit of consumers, businesses and the UK economy.’

It comes after Heathrow recorded its busiest January ever. More than 6.3 million passengers travelled through its four terminals to catch a flight last month – up by 5% from 6 million last year.

One of the key Heathrow routes is flights between the UK and US which accounted for 1.2 million passengers last month.

Heathrow has made headlines recently after the plans for a controversial third runway were given a green light.

The third runway would expand the airport over the nearby village and the M25 to add 260,000 flights each year.

Airport bosses have argued that Heathrow’s capacity is full, while environmental campaigners and residents continue to fight the expansion plan which has been on the table since 2009.

Why are the airlines unhappy?

The airlines took aim at the high costs shouldered by Heathrow passengers and companies.

Virgin Atlantic’s chief executive Shai Weiss said the airport is ‘failing consumers, airlines and the UK economy’ due to its ‘ageing facilities and a declining customer experience.’

Surinder Arora, the founder of the Arora Group, said the airport has seen a ‘decline’ over the decades he has worked in and around Heathrow.

‘The current monopoly at Heathrow doesn’t only vastly overcharge passengers on aviation fees but also on their parking and a variety of other services,’ he added.

Heathrow Reimagined said that the airport has become the world’s ‘most expensive airport.’

They claimed that passengers and airlines are now paying £1.1 billion more every year ‘than if charges were in line with equivalent major European airports.’

Heathrow’s market power has allowed it ‘for too long’ to ‘spend inefficiently which means it has acted against the interest of both consumers and airlines,’ they added.

Selina Chadha, group director of consumers and markets at the CAA, told Metro: ‘We have received a submission asking us to conduct a review of Heathrow’s economic regulatory model, and we will carefully consider it as part of our commitment to effective regulation.

‘We will always focus on delivering in the interests of consumers, while supporting growth, investment, and efficiency.’

Charges passed on to the airlines and then passengers are determined by the CAA and are generally based on the value of the airport facilities, the outlet reports.

On average, airlines are charged £27.49 per passenger until the end of 2026.

This will then be reflected in the plane ticket prices which are made of operating costs, fuel prices, aircraft type and age and route demand among others.

Metro understands that Heathrow has already told airlines and the government that it would be willing to look at a different regulatory model for the proposed third runway.

A Heathrow source argued that it would make little sense for passengers to have new runways and terminal buildings for free as they require investment.

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