Heathrow still UK’s top hub airport
12.11.11
Heathrow’s position as the UK’s major hub airport has been confirmed by the latest CAA Air Passenger Survey, although the proportion of connecting passengers dropped last year. The research by the CAA found that Heathrow had the highest proportion of connecting passengers in the UK last year. At 36% it was down from 38% in 2009, but still up from 2008’s figure of 35% and 34% in 2007. Robin Hood , East Midlands, Humberside and Leeds Bradford all saw less than 1% of their passengers changing planes.
The majority of passengers using Heathrow (58%) and London City (51%) airports were foreign residents. London City was the most ‘business-centric’ airport, with 63% of its passengers travelling on business. The next highest was Humberside with 32% and Heathrow with 30%. The airports with the highest proportion of leisure passengers were Robin Hood with 97% and East Midlands with 92%.
Passenger income in general continued to grow when measured against airports surveyed in 2008, 2009 and 2010. At Heathrow, the average leisure passenger’s household income increased by £2,000 to £60,000 and at Manchester the average business traveller’s income rose from £65,000 to £68,000. Average leisure passenger household income dropped slightly at both Gatwick and Luton airports.
Travellers from Heathrow took a higher proportion of trips over two weeks in length, at 23%. London City had the lowest proportion at only 2%.Outside of London, the highest percentage of trips over two weeks was recorded at Humberside, with 18%. The lowest was at East Midlands at 6%.
The survey was based on interviews with 200,000 departing passengers about their travel patterns at five London-area airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City - and seven regional airports - Birmingham, East Midlands, Humberside, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Manchester and Robin Hood.
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