Heathrow Airport will not limit the number of passengers flying through it this Christmas.
In a major boost for people trying to fly home or abroad this festive season, the UK's biggest airport has green-lit its full schedule.
Heathrow had put a 100,000 a day passenger cap in place this summer to try and calm chaos at the airport following a surge in demand post-lockdown.
It meant that some services had to be cancelled, disrupting the travel plans of thousands of people.
While the lack of cap is a boon for travellers and airlines using the airport, strikes due to take place later this month will be less welcome.
Around 700 workers are set to strike in Europe’s busiest airport in a dispute over pay, with the industrial action beginning on 18 November and lasting three days.
"We have been working with airlines and their ground handlers to prepare for the Christmas peak, and have a good plan, which will not require any capacity cap," Heathrow said in a statement.
"We are aware of potential strike action at a number of organisations, including a national Border Force strike.
"We are supporting organisations on contingency plans to minimise any impact, and encourage all parties to put the interests of passengers first."
Heathrow also released figures showing that it is getting back towards pre-pandemic levels.
The travel hub served 5.9m passengers in October, 84% of 2019 levels, with the January to November numbers at 74% of 2019's figures.
Heathrow claimed that the increase in passenger numbers this year is higher than at any other airport in Europe, and said it had recruited and trained 16,000 new members of staff this year.
"At current rates of recruitment, we are on track to get back to pre-pandemic employment levels before the peak summer holiday period in 2023," the statement continued.
The airport is due to receive investments of over £4bn in the next few years, some of which will go towards new security lanes allowing passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their bags.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “We have come so far since Omicron grounded Christmas travel plans last year. Heathrow, our airline partners and their handlers are all working together to make sure everyone can be reunited with their loved ones this Christmas.”
When workers walk out later this month, they will do so to coincide with the start of the World Cup in Qatar.
They primarily work in ground-handling, airside transport and cargo services and are employed by Emirates group’s airport services Dnata and Menzies.
A 5% pay rise has been offered to Dnata workers whilst Menzies has offered between a 2% and 6% pay increase.
Union UNITE has said that the pay increase is well below the current rate of inflation which stands at 12.6%.
