Heathrow Airport’s recovery caps tenure of transformational CEO

Seven million passengers travelled through Heathrow in September, the first month since February 2020 to exceed 2019 traffic levels. Passenger service levels were also ahead of 2019, and Heathrow Airport were pleased to be named ‘Best Airport in Europe’ and number three in the world by Business Traveller.

After nearly a decade as CEO, John Holland-Kaye will hand over to Thomas Woldbye on 18^th October. Under John’s leadership, the UK’s hub airport has been transformed, starting with the opening of Terminal 2, on time and on budget. Since 2014, Heathrow has been named one of the best companies to work for in the UK, consistently rated by passengers as one of the top 10 airports for service in the world and been named ‘Sustainable Business of the Year.’

John developed the plan to expand the UK’s hub airport, connecting the UK to even more of the fast-growing markets of the world, which was backed by the Airports Commission and by a 4:1 cross-party majority in Parliament. He has also taken a lead pushing global aviation towards net zero by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement and in building relationships with local communities. 

When the COVID-19 crisis shut down global aviation, John protected frontline jobs at Heathrow, kept Britain’s biggest port open for vital supplies and coordinated industry efforts to safely reopen borders. Over the last 18 months, he has successfully led Heathrow Airport to recover faster than all of its major EU competitors.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: 

“It has been a privilege to lead the very talented team which in less than a decade transformed Heathrow into a hub airport that the whole nation can be proud of. We have built a solid legacy for my successor:  Heathrow is now a customer service business with a clear path to net zero by 2050 and a plan to grow and to connect all of Britain to global growth. “

CREDIT: HEATHROW AIRPORT

CREDIT: HEATHROW AIRPORT

CREDIT: HEATHROW AIRPORT