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UK Airports Prepare for Busiest Christmas on Record, CAA Says

The watchdog urges travellers to prepare for possible delays from winter weather or security screening.

Overview

  • The CAA forecasts December travel above last year’s 22 million, with more than seven million passengers expected at Heathrow.
  • This summer was the busiest on record, with 90.2 million passengers between July and September, up 2% year on year.
  • Total passenger numbers in 2025 could surpass 300 million for the first time, compared with 295 million last year.
  • Punctuality has improved to 64% of flights within 15 minutes in Q3 2025, up from 57% a year earlier but below 2019’s 69%.
  • Aviation minister Keir Mather says the government is backing airport expansion at Luton, Gatwick and Heathrow plus airspace redesign to support connectivity and jobs.