AIR TRAVEL


FIGURE 63: TOP-10 UK PASSENGER AIRPORTS % change 2024 v 2019


Passenger numbers, 2024 v 2019 +3 100


20 40 60 80


0 *12 months to October 2024 Figures rounded Source: CAA


about the size of Scotland, [for] a contrail- avoidance scheme” which would involve rerouteing aircraft away from contrail-forming areas. Christened ‘Blue Skies’, the research project would “need four airspace labs around the world”, but Miller argued successful trials in the next five years could lead to reducing aviation’s climate impact “by up to 40%”.


SECURITY RULES AND DELIVERY DELAYS


A small but significant improvement for passengers in the airport security process came and went in June. Security restrictions on liquids in hand luggage were relaxed from June 1 at UK airports with the latest computer tomography (CT) scanners installed, allowing liquids to remain in bags. The government had previously imposed a June 1 deadline for larger airports to install the scanners, claiming it would mean “the era of the tiny toiletry is over” – although it subsequently acknowledged that, as few airports had met the deadline, 94% of air passengers would use UK airports where the restrictions remained in place. However, days later (June 9) the 100ml restriction on liquids and need to remove


2019 2024*


-8 +3 +5 -8 +6 0 +18 -10 +6


them from bags were reintroduced without explanation, and remained in place as this report was finalised. The reimposition followed an EC decision to suspend approval of the scanners. The EU followed the UK in restricting the scanners’ use from September. European airports association ACI Europe described the decisions as “a blow”, noting it “heavily penalised” airports which invested in the scanners since these are “eight times more expensive” than the machines they replaced, with operating costs “four times higher”. The outstanding issue for airlines, aside


from accessing SAF, was the continuing delays to delivery of new aircraft. Boeing was still dealing with the fallout from the mid-air blowout of a section of a Boeing 737 Max-9 the previous January as we went into 2025. Ryanair, Boeing’s biggest customer in Europe, revised down its growth forecasts for this year and 2026 in January as a result of the continuing delays. Airbus also continued to suffer delays to


OLDER adults appear to have flown less post-pandemic than pre-Covid (Figure 58) despite passenger numbers recovering (Figure 59). There appears limited public support for expanding airports (Figure 60). Flight punctuality marginally improved year on year (Figures 61 & 62). The average number of seats on flights continues to rise (Figure 64)


engine deliveries and shortages of labour and components. Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury acknowledged: “We have more demand for products than we can deliver.” Iata director general Willie Walsh warned


delays to new aircraft, replacement engines and spare parts could continue for the rest of the decade, saying airlines “have no confidence of getting aircraft or parts they’ve ordered [and] there is no evidence it’s getting better. We estimate around 700 aircraft are grounded, and getting to 1,000 is not unrealistic.”


Seats


100 150 200


50 0 Average seats per flight


2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Average load factor*


FIGURE 64: AVERAGE NUMBER OF SEATS AND LOAD FACTOR ON UK FLIGHTS


78% 79% 80% 81% 156 158 163 162


82.5% 84% 165 166


84% 170


164 165 61% 57%


79% 177


82% 181


83% 183


100


20 40 60 80


0 *Data rounded Source: CAA


%


Travel Weekly Insight Report 2025 43


Passengers (million)


81m 83m


46.6m 43m


29.4m 30.3m


28.1m 29.4m


18.2m 16.8m


14.7m 15.6m


12.6m 12.7m


8.8m 9m


8m


6.7m 6.3m


10.5m


Heathrow Gatwick


Manchester Stansted


Luton Edinburgh Birmingham Bristol


Glasgow Belfast Intl


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