Heathrow handled 1.58mn tonnes of cargo worth £215.6bn in 2024

In 2024, London’s Heathrow Airport managed the transportation of 1.58 million tonnes of cargo, facilitating trade worth £215.6 billion. This included £110 billion in exports and £105 billion in imports. Heathrow's cargo operations play a crucial role in the UK economy by connecting businesses to international markets, supporting trade, and ensuring seamless access to global supply chains.

Heathrow remains the UK’s most significant trade hub by volume and value. In 2024, 76% of the country’s air cargo exports by value and 72% of all UK air cargo by value moved through the airport. A majority of this cargo — 95% — was carried in the bellyhold of passenger aircraft.

The airport also has unique capabilities. It is the only UK port with the ability to handle all animal species. In 2024, Heathrow managed the transit of a red panda under its animal handling operations.

The top exports by weight included industrial machinery, electric machinery, and salmon. On the import side, vegetables and fruit, organic chemicals, and apparel and clothing accessories were among the most frequently transported commodities.

In March 2025, a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a major power outage at Heathrow, leading to a full airport shutdown. The incident severely disrupted cargo operations, with flights cancelled or diverted and over 200,000 passengers affected. Flight operations gradually resumed the same evening, and the UK government ordered an investigation.

In January 2025, the Chancellor supported the construction of a third runway at Heathrow, recognising the airport's role as the UK’s only hub and a key driver of economic growth. Heathrow connects to 239 destinations in 89 countries, making it the best-connected airport globally and a vital infrastructure asset for the UK.

It processes more goods by value than the ports of Felixstowe and Southampton combined, enabling exporters from across the UK to reach international markets. Businesses of all sizes and regional Chambers of Commerce rely on Heathrow to support trade, tourism, and investment.

Heathrow announced a multi-billion-pound, privately funded investment programme in February 2025 to upgrade and expand the airport, beginning this year. The move follows the Chancellor’s support for a third runway and aims to support UK economic growth through a UK-wide supply chain, including a commitment to using UK steel.

CEO Thomas Woldbye confirmed that proposals for the third runway will be submitted by summer 2025. The phased plan includes expanding Terminal 2, optimising Terminal 5, reconfiguring the airfield, improving local transport, and building sustainable infrastructure, all within the existing airport boundary.

The project is backed by the government, trade unions, and over 30 business groups. Heathrow also signed the UK Steel Charter at British Steel Scunthorpe to boost domestic steel demand. A third runway could raise UK GDP by 0.43% by 2050, with 60% of benefits outside London and the South-East.