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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Milo Boyd

Heathrow Airport ditches 100,000 passenger limits - meaning more flights for Brits

Heathrow Airport is scrapping its daily cap on passengers following a difficult summer.

The airport limited the number of passenger departures at 100,000 a day in July and in August extended the cap until October 29.

The move was designed to limit queues, baggage delays and flight cancellations after many passengers endured torrid times and lengthy waits at the airport.

According to Heathrow's numbers, 4,000 fewer people were flying into and out of the airport each day because of the cap.

Have you been affected by the passenger cap? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

The cap has been in place since July (AFP via Getty Images)

However, it won't be in time for half term, as the cap is expected to end at the end of the month, after the peak holiday period has passed.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on Monday that the airport has told airlines it will lift the cap on passenger numbers at its terminals later this month.

In August the airport claimed that since the cap was introduced, there have been fewer last-minute cancellations, better punctuality and shorter wait times for baggage.

As a result of the cap airlines had to cancel flights, while British Airways briefly stopped selling short-haul routes to meet the demands.

Emirates originally rejected the limitations, but subsequently backed down and agreed to the flight cap until mid-August.

Around 4,000 fewer passengers are using the airport each day under the cap (Getty Images)

Airlines and airports across Europe struggled to cope with the rebound in post-lockdown travel, with many failing to recruit enough staff to handle check-ins and baggage.

UK airports could be looking at a barrage of compensation claims from affected holiday firms and airlines, many of which have laid the blame for disruption squarely at the feet of the airports.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We took necessary action in July to introduce a temporary capacity cap which has since been extended through to the end of October.

"This cap resulted in fewer last-minute cancellations, better punctuality and shorter waits for bags.

"Our focus has always been on removing the cap as quickly as possible – but we will only do so if we are confident that adding in more passengers will not erode the service levels that the cap has secured.

"We continue to work with all of our airline partners ahead of the winter season to ensure a smooth operation for our passengers.”

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