Heathrow Airport is contemplating the possibility of reinstating dividend payments after a four-year hiatus, fueled by a surge in passenger traffic attributed to a vibrant summer filled with music and sports events.

As Europe’s busiest airport, Heathrow recorded an impressive 63.1 million travelers from January to September, marking a 6.2 percent growth compared to the same timeframe last year.

During the peak months of June through September, the airport welcomed 30.7 million passengers, setting a new quarterly record that highlights the significant recovery from the impacts of COVID-19-related travel disruptions.

Major events like Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, the Paris Olympics, and the Euro Championship in Germany contributed to attracting hundreds of thousands of music and sports fans to the west London terminal.

This uptick in traffic has prompted Heathrow to revise its annual passenger forecast upwards to 83.8 million, surpassing its previous pre-pandemic record of 80.9 million set in 2019. Notably, July 24 and September 2 were recorded as the airport’s busiest days ever.

For the first nine months of the year, Heathrow reported a pre-tax profit increase of 12.6 percent, reaching £696 million. Adjusted figures indicate a turnaround from a £19 million loss during the same period last year to a profit of £350 million.

The ownership structure of Heathrow includes sovereign wealth funds from both China and Qatar, as well as the Spanish construction company Ferrovial and substantial infrastructure funds. In June, Ferrovial communicated plans to sell most of its 25 percent stake to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and French firm Ardian.

Thomas Woldbye, who has been serving as Heathrow’s chief executive since last year, commented, “This summer has tested our team, infrastructure, and airline partners to work more collaboratively than ever, as we managed record passenger numbers at the world’s busiest two-runway airport.”

Woldbye encouraged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use the upcoming budget to implement measures that would foster long-term growth in the aviation sector, suggesting initiatives such as a revenue certainty mechanism for UK sustainable aviation fuel producers, along with cohesive policies to bolster the industry.

Management indicated that a return to dividend payments is “probable, subject to financial performance,” emphasizing that dividends will be issued only when the airport achieves successful operational results for its customers.