Air, Feature, Freight News

Gloom descends over empty Heathrow

[ November 11, 2020   //   Chris ]

Heathrow’s cargo volumes were down in October 23% compared to last year, according to the airport’s latest traffic figures. However, UK’s aviation industry is essential to the supply chain of temperature-sensitive, time-critical goods like vaccines – 41% of the UK’s pharmaceutical supplies are imported via Heathrow alone, it said.

North America the UK’s biggest export market has been hardest hit by the downturn.

Passenger traffic fared even worse with the eighth consecutive month of “catastrophic” decline, with November likely to be even worse, it said.

Heathrow chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, said: “Aviation is the lifeblood of the UK’s economy, critical for exports of goods and services and imports of vaccines, as well as inbound tourism, students and foreign direct investment. Lack of Government action is weakening our sector, making it harder for us to support the eventual economic recovery and help deliver the Prime Minister’s vision of a global Britain.”

Tags: Heathrow