Key facts
- Heathrow Airport served a record 84.5 million passengers in 2025.
- Profit decreased by over 37% to £575 million.
- Revenue increased by nearly 2% to £3.6 billion.
- Lower airport charges set by the CAA and increased operating costs contributed to the profit decline.
- The airport is operating near full capacity, with plans for a third runway costing £50 billion.
- A final decision on the expansion is pending the government's review of its Airports National Policy Statement.
Heathrow Airport experienced its busiest year on record in 2025, handling 84.5 million passengers. However, its profit fell by over 37% to £575 million, primarily due to lower airport charges set by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and increased operating and maintenance costs. Revenue saw a modest rise of nearly 2% to £3.6 billion.
The airport is operating at near full capacity, with expectations of incremental growth to 85 million passengers this year. This situation underscores the ongoing demand for expansion, with Heathrow's own £50 billion plan proposing a third runway that would accommodate approximately 150 million passengers annually and increase flight capacity significantly. Recent reports suggest a potential government announcement on the expansion plans is imminent, though a final decision has been deferred by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander pending a review of the UK's Airports National Policy Statement.
Heathrow emphasized that the expansion project's progression depends on the establishment of necessary regulatory and policy frameworks, particularly from the CAA, to ensure investor confidence for full private financing. Key decisions on these matters are anticipated throughout 2026. The expansion is considered vital for London's role as a global business hub and for the broader UK economy, with the airport handling over a quarter of the country's trade by value in 2025, amounting to approximately £300 billion.