In another consecutive record month for the airport, 6.11 million passengers travelled through Heathrow in November, up 3.3 per cent.

This is the first time that passenger volumes in November have exceeded six million.

North America saw growth of 5.8 per cent from a significant base, driven by more competitive pricing in the region.

At the same time, Africa saw the biggest percentage increase, up 10.2 per cent, driven by new routes to Marrakech, the Seychelles and Durban.

Over 150,000 metric tonnes of cargo travelled through Heathrow in November with Brazil, China and Turkey performing strongly.

Heathrow chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: “Record numbers of passengers are choosing to use Heathrow because we offer outstanding service and better value for our passengers.”

Rival Manchester Airports Group also reported strong figures for November.