Heathrow is the UK’s primary gateway to the world and its only hub airport. As the largest airport in London – currently the biggest aviation market globally by a significant margin – it holds a unique structural and commercial position. Airlines operating at Heathrow, which include two home-based carriers and 82 airlines in total, serve 219 direct destinations worldwide, of which 70 are unique destinations served by airlines solely from Heathrow and from no other London airport.

While Heathrow has more passengers than peer European hub airports, airlines serve fewer destinations from Heathrow (219) than from Frankfurt (304), Paris Charles de Gaulle (289) and Amsterdam (260). 

Very high charges and increasingly uncompetitive and inefficient infrastructure contribute to Heathrow’s hub status dwindling. The range of destinations offered at Heathrow will continue to fall behind other major airports as connecting passengers choose other hubs, reducing the viability of marginal routes. Further ‘dehubbing’ of Heathrow, and the resulting loss in connectivity, will harm UK consumers and the UK economy. 

Heathrow is the UK’s biggest port of all by value. The extensive and diverse route network offered by Heathrow-based airlines facilitates the timely flow of goods in and out of the UK, largely in the hold of passenger aircraft:

• £198 billion in cargo (i.e. imports and exports) passed through Heathrow in 2023, representing 21% of all UK goods trade. This is equivalent to 7% of UK GDP in 2023.
• Exports out of Heathrow in 2023 accounted for 26% of the UK’s total exports by value.
• 70% of all UK air cargo by value was processed through Heathrow in 2023.
•   90% of cargo at Heathrow travelled in the belly hold of passenger aircraft in 2023.
• Passenger aircraft from Heathrow carry around 45% of the UK’s non-EU exports. 

Heathrow also plays a critical role in the UK's supply chain for time-sensitive cargo such as perishable food and medicines. Without direct connections to supply chain markets, the UK would depend solely on indirect – and slower/costlier – routes through other major hubs (e.g. Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Madrid, etc). 

Continuing on Heathrow’s currently declining trajectory will erode the viability of Heathrow’s marginal routes, the hub and the economy that relies on it. Outcomes for Heathrow’s passengers, airlines and the country will become worse. Heathrow’s position as a unique and critical gateway for the UK means that these underlying problems need to be comprehensively addressed. 

Heathrow is a key enabler of economic growth and competitiveness in sectors across the UK economy

Heathrow is a critical piece of the UK’s economic infrastructure. It, together with its operating airlines, plays an essential role in supporting the current government’s growth mission across multiple growth-driving sectors. The airport acts as a crucial enabler for several of the government’s priority growth sectors (e.g. professional and business services, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing), and helping to unlock economic growth and competitiveness across the economy. Previous economic estimates indicate that its associated activity contributes £12.5 billion to UK GDP and supports 133,000 jobs. 

The economic benefits associated with Heathrow’s hub status are felt across the country, not just in London and the South East. Heathrow’s hub status means it provides international and domestic connectivity across the UK. 

Reliable direct services and international connectivity also attract and sustain headquarters and major centres of financial and business services companies in London and elsewhere in the UK, generating jobs, trade and innovation for the economy. 

The unique and critical role that Heathrow plays in underpinning vital aspects of the UK economy means it is essential that the country derives the maximum value possible from its only hub airport. This is particularly the case given that Heathrow is highly congested and has been operating at near capacity for some time.