A record 7.05 million passengers travelled through Heathrow in August 2014, an increase of 1.3 per cent on August 2013, making it Heathrow’s busiest ever month and the first time the airport has handled more than seven million passengers in a single month.

With growth boosted by the summer months, August 17th also saw Heathrow’s record busiest day, with 241,412 passengers passing through the terminals.

Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “Record passenger numbers and strong cargo performance to emerging markets underline why British business is backing Heathrow.

“Heathrow is the only expansion option capable of delivering direct links to emerging markets like China that will be critical to future jobs, trade and economic growth in the UK.”

Larger, fuller aircraft continue to drive passenger numbers at Heathrow.

Seats per aircraft increased 0.5 per cent to 205.2, while load factors increased one percentage point to 83.7 per cent.

Passengers per aircraft rose 1.7 per cent to 171.8.