There are certainly many ways how to estimate this. The most intuitive that comes to my mind is calculating total capacity:

• Heathrow has 2 runways - you might remember the public discussions around the permits for a 3rd one. This tells you (a) the number, and (b) that the 2 runways operate at capacity
• Calculate the max capacity based on 2 runways and one flight every x minutes. You might remember sitting in a plane, waiting for take off and seeing one plane after the other in line for the run way -> so assume one flight every 2 minutes
• This gives you 30 flights per hour and runway in 24 hours, or a total of 1440 flights. You might reduce that number by assuming a slightly longer time between take offs between midnight and 6am or so. Maybe half the density during that time, so reduce the number by 1/8th. This gives you 1260.

Googling wha the actual number is (although of course irrelevant, because it's about the approach, not the result): ~1300. So the estimation was pretty close ;)

Hey, why not post your structure & approach and coaches can comment.

Hello!

THERE IS A CASE SOLVED FOR YOU :)

Have a look at this free case I did for the PrepL library,:

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/covid-19-impact-on-heathrow-airport-197

You have the answer step by step

Hope you find it useful!