Heathrow passenger traffic to soar in 2013 Heathrow is forecasting earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation and exceptional items to reach £1.2bn for 2012, up 10.1pc on 2011. Despite the headwinds facing the global aviation industry, Heathrow said it is confident of delivering "strong growth" in both revenue and earnings in 2013, helped by the roll-out of a new generation of bigger aircraft. Passenger traffic at Heathrow is expected to rise 1.2pc to 70.9m in 2013, due to a "marginal" increase in the number of flights and "larger average aircraft size," the airports group said in a report to investors. Earnings before exceptional items is likely to rise 16.6pc to £1.3bn next year, the report reveals. Heathrow is planning to spend more than £1.3bn in 2013, particularly on the construction of the new Terminal 2. "This programme is the biggest private development in the country which will support the UK economy with thousands of high calibre jobs as the pressure on public sector spending continues," Heathrow said. Heathrow yesterday received a major boost when the Institute of Directors recommended it should be expanded to include four runways.