Heathrow hopeful of summer holiday boom after January passenger slump

Despite a weak start to 2022, Heathrow is maintaining its forecast of 45 million passengers this year, just over half of pre-pandemic levels. Photograph: Charles Stirling (Travel)/Alamy

Heathrow airport has said more than 1.3 million passengers cancelled their travel plans over the Christmas and new year period because of Omicron, with hopes for a summer recovery after a weak start to the year.

The airport said travel was down 56% in January compared with 2019 levels, a worse start to the year than it had forecast, as the hangover from the Omicron variant affected traveller confidence.