LONDON Heathrow Airport said it would lift the cap on passenger numbers in the next month.
This unusual measure was taken to control the flow of passengers through the country’s busiest airport. It was necessary to address a rise in travel and a shortage for workers after the Pandemic.
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The 100,000 daily passenger limit also meant that passengers had fewer flights and seats available.
People familiar with the decision said that London Heathrow Airport informed airlines that the cap would be lifted on October 29, according to those who were there.
Although the restrictions were originally expected to be lifted on September 11, the airport stated that it didn’t have sufficient resources or staff to prevent long queues, delays for passengers who require assistance, and luggage problems.
“This cap resulted in fewer last-minute cancellations, better punctuality and shorter waits for bags,” a spokeswoman for Heathrow said.
“Our focus has always been on removing the cap as quickly as possible—but we will only do so if we are confident that adding in more passengers will not erode the service levels that the cap has secured.”
The airport will still be able implement emergency restrictions to limit passengers traveling through its terminals, but these restrictions can only be applied for shorter periods.
According to a source familiar with the conversation, this measure would only be used in order to limit capacity if Britain’s aviation hub experiences severe disruption during peak travel times (such as holidays).
Heathrow Airport announced it was extending the cap on passenger numbers in August, coming off the back of a summer of hell at Britain’s airports.
The company stated that the company would make the change. “provide passengers with confidence ahead of their half-term getaways”.
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.”