Virgin announces improved Heathrow passenger numbers

Richard Branson’s airline Virgin Atlantic today chose a time of acute discomfort for arch rival British Airways to announce improved passenger numbers at Heathrow airport.

With BA striving to overcome the shambolic Heathrow Terminal 5 opening, Virgin said its new Terminal 3 (T3) facility at the west London airport had attracted thousands of new passengers.

The facility opened last December and passenger numbers increased 4% last month, with the airline’s first-class numbers rising 10%.

The airline said an independent report it commissioned showed 83% of passengers using the new facility rated it excellent or good.

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway added: “Passengers are choosing to travel through our new terminal at Heathrow in their thousands.

“We are delighted with our early performance at T3, which is a credit to all the hard work put in every day by the Virgin Atlantic and BAA teams.”