Heathrow Airport has achieved higher sales and record levels of passenger satisfaction during the last three quarters.

Revenue increased by 8.2 per cent to £1.99 billion in the nine months to end of September on the back of rising passenger numbers and more money generated per passenger.

Some 55.7 million passengers used Heathrow during the period, representing growth of 1.5 per cent, driven by intercontinental traffic.

In addition, 26 airlines have now successfully made the transition to the new £2.5 billion Terminal 2: The Queen's Terminal and over 40,000 passengers a day are now using the facility.

The Airports Commission is currently considering ways of expanding airport capacity, and Heathrow's chief executive John Holland-Kaye used the latest statistics to support his case.

He described the expansion of Heathrow as "not only the best option to keep Britain at the heart of the global economy, but also as politically deliverable, with growing support from local communities, politicians and businesses across the UK".