Chief executive John Holland-Kaye on Monday (11 July) said the airport was now poised to review schedule changes following the government’s slot amnesty, stressing the airport could ask carriers "to take further action" if it feels their schedules risk exceeding the capacity it can withstand.
Last month, Heathrow asked airlines to remove 30 flights from the 30 June schedule. "We are expecting higher passenger numbers in today’s morning peak than the airport currently has capacity to serve," it said in a statement.
Holland-Kaye’s comments came as Heathrow announced nearly six million passengers travelled through the airport in June, taking the total number for the first half of the year to 25 million.
After launching a recruitment drive late last year, Heathrow now expects – by the end of July – to have as many people working in security as it did pre-pandemic. Terminal 4 has also now reopened.
However, Heathrow said rebuilding capacity quickly would remain "very challenging" with resources throughout the entire aviation supply chain depleted.
"Arrivals punctuality is very low as a result of delays at other airports and airspace congestion across Europe, and this has compounded the challenge of resource constraints for the airport, airlines, ground handlers and government agencies," said Heathrow.
"In spite of this, we have been able to provide a good level of service for the vast majority of passengers. However, despite our best efforts there have been periods in recent weeks where service levels have not been acceptable, with long queue times, delays for passengers with reduced mobility, bags not travelling with passengers or arriving late, and we want to apologise to any passengers who have been affected by this."
’Demand exceeding capacity’
On the slot amnesty, Heathrow said it was hopeful the decision by the Department for Transport and CAA to give airlines the chance to trim their schedules without penalty would "minimise further disruption". "We will carefully assess if airlines’ reviewed schedule changes will help achieve that," the airport said.
Holland-Kaye added: “Last month, we saw exponential growth in passenger numbers as nearly six million people got away – the equivalent of 40 years of growth in just four months. I am very proud of the way our team is rising to the challenge of growth, and giving excellent service to the vast majority of passengers. However, we have already seen times recently when demand exceeds the capacity of the airport, airlines and ground handlers.
“We will review the schedule changes that airlines have submitted in response to the government’s requirement to minimise disruption for passengers this summer and will ask them to take further action if necessary. We want everyone who is travelling through Heathrow to be confident that they will have a safe and reliable journey.”
