Heathrow's passenger cap extended until October, here’s how it could affect you

Heathrow airport’scap of 100,000 passengers per day has been extended until October. First put in place mid-July and originally set to end on 11 September, it will now continue until 29 October,after the autumnhalf-term holidays for most UK schools.

Passenger cap due to staff shortages

The passenger cap aims to relieve pressure off the aviation industry, which has been struggling recently due to staff shortages after the Covid-19 pandemic. On Monday 15 August, Heathrow’s Chief Commercial Officer Ross Baker said, as reported by The Independent:

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.

What does this mean for you?

According to industry experts, the number of flights to popular destinations could be reduced, as reported by Telegraph. This means that people who have waited to book for busy weeks like the October half-term break could have to fight to find tickets. While those whose flights are cancelled are likely to be re-booked onto new flights.

Simon Calder, travel correspondent for The Independent, said:

This announcement, though not unexpected, means airline passengers will continue to see less availability and consequently higher fares right through to the October half term.

While Clive Wratten, CEO of the Business Travel Association, said:

[This decision] compounds the misery faced by many leisure travellers and heaps pain on British businesses trying to get back to international work...

As staff levels increase, surely the passenger cap can rise in order to help struggling airlines and to get British people overseas safely and efficiently? Why are they taking unilateral action rather than reflecting the reality of their progress? We all deserve better.

Indeed, according to The Guardian, Heathrow said it had recruited 1,300 people in the last six months, and that its number of security staff would return to pre-pandemic levelsby the end of July.

A spokesman for airline Virgin Atlantic said, as reported by the BBC:

We are disappointed that Heathrow Airport has already decided to extend the passenger capacity cap until the end of October, as additional resources come on line every week and the airport experience improves.

Read more:

⋙ Airlines to limit passengers, what does this mean for summer travellers?

⋙ British Airways forced to cancel short-haul flights, what does this mean for you?

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