Figures published on Monday (12 June) showed that passenger levels in May increased to 6.7 million – up compared to the 6.4 million registered a month prior. 

Of those, 1.6 million flew to North America as the London hub has switched its focus away from the European and East Asian markets – which have been slower to recover – towards the US, with 248 daily flights to and from it.

Just last week, British Airways announced it was expanding its US portfolio with new weekly services between Heathrow and Cincinnati, Ohio.

“The unrivalled choice of destinations and high frequency to cities like New York make flights from Heathrow vital trade routes with the USA, Britain’s most important export market,” said chief executive John Holland-Kaye.

“We have delivered excellent service to passengers, with no cancellations, over eight days of strikes on the busiest days in May, and do not anticipate cancellations as a result of strikes during the summer holiday getaway.”

Around 1,400 security officers at Terminal 5 and in campus security downed tools for eight days last month over pay and conditions, with more industrial action expected to go ahead between late June and August.