Heathrow Airport says passenger numbers were up 74% during the first three months of the year, compared to the same period last year.

The airport – Europe’s busiest – welcomed 16.9 million passengers, beating Paris, Frankfurt and Schiphol.

But it remains loss-making, with adjusted losses of £139m in the first financial quarter, and it said there is unlikely to be any dividends for shareholders in 2023.

Chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “2023 has got off to a strong start, and I’m proud of the way colleagues are working together to deliver great passenger service every day.

“We are building our route network to connect all of Britain to the growing markets of the world – now we need the government to lure international visitors back to the UK by scrapping the ‘tourist tax’.”

It echoes similar calls from Burberry chairman Gerry Murphy earlier this week, when he described the axing of VAT refunds for tourists as a “spectacular own goal” that had made Britain the “least attractive” shopping destination in Europe.

In its financial results statement, Heathrow said that “robust contingency plans” kept the airport running smoothly during the industrial action seen in the Easter peak period.

People urged by Bank of England economist to ‘accept’ being poorer

Amazon UK could be forced to recognise new union, GMB says

Power giant Drax told by own advisers to stop calling biomass ‘carbon neutral’

“Passengers can expect to travel as normal during the coronation and half-term peaks, regardless of further unnecessary strike action by Unite”, it added.

Meanwhile, new routes have opened to Northern Ireland and Scotland, and also China following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions there.

There will be an increase in flights to Beijing and Shanghai – with two flights daily before the summer.

Related posts:

Co-op to pay bonuses despite withholding £65m in state funds Pope calls on world financial leaders to reduce debt burden of poorer countries Belfry owner KSL tees off talks about £150m sale Mercedes F1 team ends sponsorship deal with Grenfell insulation firm Kingspan M&S enjoys ‘strong’ Christmas but ASOS hit by supply woes during festive season Omicron takes out 3% of the workforce while a fifth of firms are hit by higher cancellations Chelsea FC sale: Ex-chancellor Osborne signs up to advise Boehly bid Revealed: The least diverse job sector in UK – and what’s being done to change it Tesco ‘inflating prices a little bit less and a little bit later’ than the competition Kwarteng to meet high street bank chiefs amid mortgage market freeze Elon Musk’s Twitter deal is back on – but will he follow through? Royal Mail boss grilled over £140,000 bonus as union threatens six more months of strikes