Heathrow has recorded its busiest ever April as the Easter getaway sent passenger numbers soaring, securing the airport its thirtieth month of consecutive growth.

Figures reveal the UK’s busiest airport welcomed 6.79 million passengers last month (up 3.3 per cent on last April) - averaging 226,600 daily passengers or the equivalent of the population of Aberdeen.

North America was the most popular market with new flights taking off to Nashville, Pittsburgh and Charleston helping to push up passenger numbers by 7.5 per cent month-on-month.

New routes to Durban, Marrakesh and the Seychelles led to a notable 12 per cent increase in passengers traveling to Africa

Helping to boost links to more Asian markets, Heathrow announced a new Air China, thrice weekly service to Chengdu.

Air China is set to transport 80,000 passengers and 3,744 tonnes of cargo between China and the UK each year.

Heathrow chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: “Increasing passenger demand and new long haul and domestic routes is a reminder of the critical role aviation plays in our economy, connecting all of Britain to global growth.

“However, to maintain the economic benefits of flying for future generations, aviation must play its part in keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees.

“Carbon is the problem, not flying, and Heathrow is taking a lead in moving the global aviation sector to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”