Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye, has again criticised the lack of assistance from the UK government for the aviation sector. The airport has reported a 82% decline in traffic for the month of October compared to 2019 figures, which represents the eighth consecutive month of “catastrophic decline”. With the current travel ban, Heathrow expects November to be “even worse”.
Long-haul and critical markets for trade suffered the worst declines due to the UK Government’s quarantine requirements. The airport’s overall cargo volumes were down 23% compared to last year. North America the UK’s biggest export market has been hardest hit by the downturn.
The airport has described the UK’s aviation industry as essential to the supply chain of temperature-sensitive, time-critical goods like vaccines – noting that 41% of the UK’s pharmaceutical supplies are imported via Heathrow alone.
Although Heathrow is offering Oxford LAMP rapid COVID-19 tests to passengers travelling to other countries, it bemoans the fact that these are not yet approved for UK arrivals. In a statement, the airport said that the lack of a testing regime “has left British airports unable to compete with EU rivals, the refusal to offer English and Welsh airports business rates relief runs the risk of worsening an already challenging situation and the plans to end VAT-free shopping threatens to kick our industry when its down”.
Heathrow CEO, 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.”