Heathrow Airport has announced an ambitious £2.3 billion infrastructure investment plan from 2025 – 2027, to enhance the overall passenger experience and boost the UK economy
Heathrow Airport, one of the UK’s busiest hubs, has unveiled an ambitious £2.3 billion plan to enhance passenger experience, surpassing previous investment projections by nearly £249 million.
The airport is set to invest a whopping £1.02 billion in infrastructure for 2025 and an additional £1.27 billion in 2026, according to its recent Investment Impact Report.
This report also documented a substantial £1.10 billion investment planned for 2024. The new investment plan, which marks the largest private sector capital investment in the UK transport network, includes several key initiatives aimed at improving passenger experience, as reported by AviationA2Z.
The Independent Journeys Project will assist travellers needing extra support, fostering greater independence in navigating the airport. Active Travel initiatives will encourage sustainable transportation, promoting cycling and walking between terminals by 2027.
Enhancements to terminal operations will focus on critical areas such as baggage delivery systems and improving departure and arrival punctuality. These upgrades are designed to bolster airport resilience and elevate service quality for all passengers.
The two-year upgrade programme will generate opportunities for businesses of all sizes, contributing to the strength of the UK’s economic ecosystem, reports the Express.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye declared: “Heathrow is the UK’s gateway to the world, and ultimately, the country’s gateway to growth.
“The announcement confirms that we will continue to invest more than £1bn of private sector cash each year into the airport to deliver facilities our airlines and passengers want, while boosting the UK economy and creating opportunities for businesses up and down the country.”
Heathrow is also anticipating its busiest Christmas period yet, after breaking monthly records. On Christmas Day, the airport expects 210,000 passengers to travel through its terminals, an increase of 21 per cent, in comparison to 2023.
Several routes including Singapore, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Abu Dhabi, Chicago, Zurich, Mumbai and Paris have also joined the ‘Millionaire Club’ in November, which means they have surpassed a million passengers travelling on those routes so far in 2024. Heathrow says it is on target to have 25 routes hit a million passengers this year, up from 24 last year.
News of a busy December for the airport follows Heathrow serving over 6.5 million passengers last month, making it the highest ever November.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “This year has been all about providing high levels of service for record amounts of passengers at Heathrow, and November was no different.
“As we embrace the festive season, our focus remains on ensuring smooth, joyful journeys—whether it is helping passengers get away for Christmas to reunite with their loved ones, or making sure cargo reaches its destination on time. Make sure to look out for our exciting seasonal surprises throughout the terminals, as we aim to make this holiday season magical for those travelling through Heathrow.”