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New figures from Heathrow have revealed overall passenger numbers remained nearly 50 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels in February. A total of 2.8 million passengers travelled through the hub airport last month, 15 per cent below initial forecasts.
However, outbound leisure demand is recovering strongly, the airport said, as countries start to remove travel restrictions. Demand from inbound leisure and business travel remains suppressed by the testing and quarantine requirements that are still in place in nearly two-thirds of the markets the airport serves, added a statement.
Heathrow said a multitude of other challenges remained, including headwinds from higher fuel prices, longer flight times to destinations impacted by airspace closures, concerns from US travellers over the war in Europe and the likelihood of new Covid-19 variants. Estimated from the airport, however, suggest demand over the summer could reach 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
