Heathrow extends capacity cap to cover October half-term

Heathrow has confirmed the extension of a capacity cap imposed to minimise disruption during the peak summer season until the 29 October.

The airport said the extension of the cap, set at 100,000 daily departing passengers, would "provide confidence" ahead of the October half-term travel period.

However, it said capacity limits would be kept under review and could be lifted sooner should there be a "sustained picture of better resilience" and indications that suppliers, notably ground handlers, had dealt with staff shortages.

Accommodation providers in the UK have reported that news of the passenger cap prompted an influx in staycation bookings.

In late June VisitBritain published a poll revealing that 39% of Britons were more likely to choose a staycation over an overseas trip than they were pre-pandemic. Of those planning a staycation, just over 50% cited wanting to avoid the risk of long queues or a cancelled flight, while 47% said it was due to UK holidays being cheaper.

The restriction on passenger numbers was introduced in July, when Heathrow also asked airlines to restrict forward sales to reduce traffic and delays. It was initially imposed until the 11 September, with expectations that an extension to the end of October would follow.

Heathrow said the move had resulted in "fewer last-minute cancellations, better punctuality and shorter waits for bags", noting that other major gateways including Gatwick, Frankfurt and Schiphol had imposed similar caps, with Schiphol also extending the restrictions to the end of October.

Heathrow chief commercial officer Ross Baker said: "Our primary concern is ensuring we give our passengers a reliable service when they travel. That's why we introduced temporary capacity limits in July which have already improved journeys during the summer getaway.

"We want to remove the cap as soon as possible, but we can only do so when we are confident that everyone operating at the airport has the resources to deliver the service our passengers deserve."

Article by Robin Searle of Travel Weekly