LONDON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- London Heathrow Airport handled a record 83.9 million passengers in 2024, marking a 6 percent increase from the previous year, the airport said in a statement on Wednesday. Cargo volumes also saw a 10 percent rise.

The 2024 passenger figures surpassed Heathrow's previous record from 2019 by three million.

"For the first time in five years and as a result of strong 2024 business performance, Heathrow's Board has decided to pay a dividend of 250 million pounds (316 million U.S. dollars) to its ultimate shareholders in the coming weeks," the statement said.

Heathrow's pre-tax profits surged 31 percent to 917 million British pounds in 2024, but total revenue fell to 3.6 billion pounds due to a lower airport charge set by Britain's aviation regulator.

"Securing future economic growth means investing in the infrastructure that powers it," Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said, referring to the airport's long-standing ambition to build a third runway.

After years of debate, the British government announced its support for Heathrow's expansion earlier this year, citing its potential to "create over 100,000 direct jobs, boost a better-connected British economy by billions." (1 British pound = 1.27 U.S. dollar) Enditem

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