# Heathrow Airport says return to pre-pandemic demand years away Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-10-27 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Heathrow Airport Reports 442 Million Pound Loss, Warns of Meta Description: Heathrow, the UK's largest airport, faces challenges due to global crisis, war in Ukraine, and COVID-19 impact. Slow recovery expected, with revenue URL: https://financedigest.com/heathrow-airport-says-return-to-pre-pandemic-demand-years-awayhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-10-26t160557z2lynxmpei9p08prtroptp4heathrowairport-results-1736814964780-compressed.jpg) LONDON (Reuters) -Britain’s biggest airport Heathrow reported a nine-month loss of 442 million pounds ($507 million) and warned it was unlikely to return to pre-pandemic demand for several years. “Headwinds of a global economic crisis, war in Ukraine and the impact of COVID-19 mean we are unlikely to return to pre-pandemic demand for a number of years, except at peak times,” it said on Wednesday. The loss for the nine months to Sept. 30 added to losses of 4 billion pounds in the prior two [years as regulated](https://www.financedigest.com/2018-is-a-year-of-regulation-is-your-business-ready.html "2018 is a year of regulation – is your business ready?") income failed to cover costs. Revenue trebled to 2.1 [billion pounds](https://www.financedigest.com/shell-to-evaluate-25-billion-pound-british-investments-after-windfall-tax.html "Shell to ‘evaluate’ 25 billion pound British investments after windfall tax"), with the rebound in travel from pandemic lows partly offset by the hub’s self-imposed daily cap of 100,000 passenger departures. The cap, which limited flight cancellations as the airport struggled to cope with the [bounce back](https://www.financedigest.com/biotech-stocks-pin-bounce-back-hopes-on-ma-boost.html "Biotech stocks pin bounce back hopes on M&A boost") in travel due to labour shortages, will be removed from Oct. 30. Heathrow, situated west of London, said it was working with [airlines to agree](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-agrees-law-to-make-airlines-pay-more-to-pollute.html "EU agrees law to make airlines pay more to pollute") a mechanism that, if needed, would align supply and demand on peak days in the lead up to Christmas. The airport forecast that total [passenger numbers for 2022 would reach between 60 to 62 million](https://www.financedigest.com/ryanair-passenger-numbers-rise-in-august-to-11-1-million.html "Ryanair passenger numbers rise in August to 11.1 million"), about 25% fewer than 2019. Earlier this month, Heathrow warned of a possible slowdown in travel demand this winter due to the deteriorating [economic outlook](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russians-feel-little-economic-pain-now-long-term-outlook-darkens.html "Analysis: Russians feel little economic pain now, long-term outlook darkens"), the impact of a new wave of COVID-19 and the escalating situation in Ukraine. Heathrow said to be able to meet demand at peak [times businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/why-the-new-year-is-the-best-time-to-start-your-dream-tech-business.html "Why the New Year is the best time to start your dream tech business") across the airport needed to recruit and train up to 25,000 security cleared people. We…are working with airlines and their ground handlers to get [back to full capacity at peak times as soon as possible,” said CEO](https://www.financedigest.com/shareholder-group-iss-backs-barclays-board-over-former-ceo-staley.html "Shareholder group ISS backs Barclays board over former CEO Staley") John Holland-Kaye. ($1 = 0.8715 pounds) (Reporting by James Davey; editing by William James and Louise Heavens) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---