Heathrow Slot Prices Break Records: Reaching Up to $75 Million

London Heathrow Airport has become one of the most critical hubs in global aviation, driven by rising passenger traffic and limited capacity. With slots nearly fully allocated, takeoff and landing rights at the airport have turned into a strategic asset. In recent years, some morning slots have been sold for as much as $75 million in transfer deals.

Capacity at Its Limit

According to data from aviation consultancy IBA, Heathrow handles around 10,500 flight movements per week, equivalent to 40–45 takeoffs and landings per hour. The capacity usage rate is at 99%. During peak summer seasons, demand exceeds supply by about 10%. This makes morning and peak-period slots especially valuable.

Heathrow’s Most Notable Slot Sales

SAS – American Airlines (2015): $60 million

Air France-KLM – Oman Air (2016): $75 million

SAS – American Airlines (2017): $75 million (for a pair of morning slots)

Air New Zealand – United Airlines (2020): $47 million

KLM – Virgin Atlantic (2022): approx. $20 million

Tarom – Qatar Airways (2024): over $20 million

The Strategic Value of Slots

As one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, Heathrow is of great importance not only for the UK but also for the entire continent. The fact that slot prices reach tens of millions of dollars clearly demonstrates the commercial and strategic value of gaining access to this airport for airlines.