Heathrow Airport recorded its busiest day since before the pandemic in April, but said the Government must do more help UK aviation compete globally.

Heathrow welcomed 6.7 million passengers in April, bringing the total for the year so far to 25.2 million.

Last month, Heathrow saw a daily average of 224,000 passengers, while Friday 19 April saw the airfield’s busiest day since October 2019 with 1,337 flights.

But Heathrow warned: “Despite our positive outlook for growth, current Government policy is curtailing the UK’s global connectivity.

“Initiatives like the introduction of unnecessary visas for transiting passengers, the absence of tax-free shopping and the recently proposed hike in business rates, underscore the need for Ministers to take a cross-Government approach to policymaking that supports UK aviation’s global competitiveness.”

Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “As we continue to grow, our focus is on making Heathrow fit for the future, delivering reliable journeys for all our customers today and getting ready for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

“But to unlock our full potential to help grow the country’s economy, we need the Government to implement policies that support UK aviation’s ability to compete globally, and thus make the UK more competitive overall.”