3 AUGUST 2020

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Article from BTNews 3 AUGUST 2020

Heathrow and Covid-19

Airport in not unexpected passenger number decline.

With passenger numbers down over 96% in Q2 as global aviation came to a virtual standstill Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye was in no mood for complacency when announcing the second quarter results for 2020.  “Today’s results should serve as a clarion call for the Government – the UK needs a passenger testing regime and fast.”

Maybe he had seen the report in today’s BTN with procedures being put in place by the Berlin airports, and also other European hubs.

“Our European competitors are racing ahead with passenger testing, if the UK doesn’t act soon global Britain will be nothing more than a campaign slogan,” he said in a statement.

Mr Holland-Kaye noted that whilst there has been a rise in freighter aircraft movements this has been nullified by a loss of cargo volumes of over 30%, hit by the reduction of passenger flights.  The belly hold of a wide-bodied aircraft can accommodate up to 20% by weight of cargo.

Cargo at the UK’s biggest port usually travels in the hold of passenger planes. Increase in cargo-only flights has not offset the loss of passenger flights to long-haul markets.

“Today’s results should serve as a clarion call for the Government – the UK needs a passenger testing regime and fast. Without it, Britain is just playing a game of quarantine roulette. As many of our customers have experienced, it’s difficult to plan a holiday that way, let alone run a business. Testing offers a way to safely open up travel and trade to some of the UK’s biggest markets which currently remain closed.

www.heathrow.com

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