Just 406,060 international flights operated from the UK this year, down 71% on the pre-pandemic period of 2019, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
In 2019 there were 1,399,170 flights out of the UK.
The largest international route in 2021 from the UK was London Heathrow to New York’s JFK, despite the US only reopening their borders in November.
Five airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and newcomer JetBlue, flew a total of over 2,410 flights on the route this year.
Flights operating in the Common Travel Area showed strong recovery in 2021, as arrivals into the UK faced no testing or quarantine mandates.
Two UK to Dublin routes feature in the top 10 of all international routes from the UK, including London Heathrow and London Gatwick to Dublin.
Of the busiest routes from the UK this year, nine departed from London Heathrow and one departed from London Gatwick.
Unsurprisingly, London Heathrow saw the most flights, with over 78,820 being recorded in 2021. Next was London Stansted…
