London Heathrow Airport witnessed a remarkable surge in passenger traffic during June 2024, with figures revealing a robust recovery from the pandemic. The airport saw 1,762,564 passengers traveling between the US and the UK, representing an impressive 11.2% increase compared to June 2019. This translates to nearly 59,000 travelers passing through Heathrow daily, reaffirming its position as a major international travel hub.
This growth can be attributed to several key factors. JetBlue’s entry into the transatlantic market has brought increased competition, stimulating travel demand. Major carriers like American Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic have also significantly expanded their operations, contributing to the higher passenger numbers. While airlines managed to fill 88.9% of available seats in June, the overall load factor experienced a slight dip compared to pre-pandemic times. This trend, driven by capacity growth outpacing the increase in traffic, may have led airlines to adjust by offering reduced fares and yields to attract more passengers and optimize seat occupancy.
The data also provides a route-specific breakdown, revealing that New York JFK was the busiest route with nearly 309,000 passengers, while Salt Lake City ranked last. While no airline-specific breakdown was provided, average seat load factors were included, highlighting routes with exceptionally strong or notably lower performance. Notably, all three Florida destinations—Miami, Orlando, and Tampa—experienced below-average load factors. Miami and Orlando witnessed double-digit capacity increases year-on-year, with Orlando’s capacity rising nearly 25%. Consequently, fewer than 80% of Orlando’s seats were filled in June. Conversely, Nashville topped the list with a remarkable 97.1% of seats occupied.
The post-pandemic period has seen notable changes in route offerings and services at Heathrow. The airport has added flights to Cincinnati, Orlando (previously served by Gatwick during the pandemic), and Tampa. However, services to Charleston and San José have been discontinued. Los Angeles experienced the most significant growth, with average daily departures increasing from nine to eleven. American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic have expanded their services from double to triple daily, while United Airlines has increased its flights from once to twice daily. However, Air New Zealand ceased its daily fifth freedom service on this route. (Delta Air Lines also briefly operated the Los Angeles-Heathrow route between March 2023 and May 2024 before Virgin Atlantic took over.)
San Diego saw the highest percentage increase in traffic, with roundtrip passengers rising by an impressive 71.9%. British Airways, which traditionally served San Diego daily, operated a record double daily service this summer using the 777-200ER and 787-8 aircraft. The frequency is expected to return to a single daily flight on the A350-1000 during the winter season. On the other hand, Detroit witnessed a significant reduction in passengers, with June traffic falling by about half. This decrease correlates with the reduction in flights from double daily (previously operated by the A330-200 and 767-300ER) to a single daily service using the A330-200.
The comprehensive data underscores the dynamic nature of air travel between the UK and the US, highlighting both growth opportunities and challenges within the aviation sector. This information is valuable for airlines, airport operators, and travelers alike, providing insights into the evolving trends and dynamics of the transatlantic travel market.
