![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/heathrow-passenger-limit-may-return-for-christmas/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/127342166_heathrow_index_getty.jpg&description=Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Pictures taken at the beginning of June of long queues at Heathrow AirportHeathrow Airport could impose a cap on passenger numbers at busy times around Christmas, bosses have said.A 100,000 daily cap imposed over the summer due to staff shortages will be lifted at the end of October.But Heathrow warned it could return "if needed" to avoid flight cancellations in the run-up to the festive period.The airport said passenger numbers were unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels "for a number of years" but it needed to recruit thousands more staff.Heathrow bosses expect there to be 25% fewer travellers this year compared to 2019, with up to 62 million people passing through.The cost-of-living crisis, Ukraine war and impact of Covid had hit demand for international travel, it said.John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Britain's largest airport told the BBC the airport wanted to "get back to full capacity as soon as possible"."We don't want to have a cap at all," he told the Today programme. "The reason for having a cap is to make sure we keep supply and demand in balance."It was absolutely the right thing to do over the summer. It meant for the summer holidays people could get away with confidence."Image source, Getty ImagesThousands of passengers have faced delays and flight cancellations in recent months with airports and airlines struggling to recruit enough staff to cope with the surge in demand for international travel, following the removal of Covid restrictions.How have you been affected by flight disruptions or cancellations? Get in touch via:Airports and airlines cut thousands of jobs at the height of the pandemic, and many workers haven't returned to the industry due to finding other jobs. Heathrow said some 75,000 jobs across 400 organisations operating at the airport had been cut down to 50,000 during the pandemic. These businesses need to recruit back up to full head count in roles including ground handlers, airline a){kind=link}
Heathrow Airport could impose a cap on passenger numbers at busy times around Christmas, bosses have said.
A 100,000 daily cap imposed over the summer due to staff shortages will be lifted at the end of October.
But Heathrow warned it could return “if needed” to avoid flight cancellations in the run-up to the festive period.
The airport said passenger numbers were unlikely to return to pre-pandemic levels “for a number of years” but it needed to recruit thousands more staff.
Heathrow bosses expect there to be 25% fewer travellers this year compared to 2019, with up to 62 million people passing through.