The boss of Heathrow Airport has slammed a ‘lack of Government action’ to help Britain’s struggling aviation industry after figures showed a ‘catastrophic’ 82 per cent fall in passenger numbers last month.
Just 1.25 million people travelled through the west London airport last month, compared with 7.06 million during October 2019.
North American routes saw the biggest drop, down 95 per cent year on year.
It comes against a backdrop of a series of difficulties for airlines and airports during the pandemic, which has seen cancelled flights and thousands of job losses.
Some 1.25 million people travelled through the west London airport last month, compared with 7.06 million during October 2019
With a second lockdown, including England’s ban on leisure travel, now in effect, Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kate, pictured, says ‘November is likely to be even worse’
Just 200,000 people flew into all of the UK’s airports each month during April, May and June as thousands had to cancel holidays and remain at home in lockdown.
The opening of ‘air bridges’ to dozens of countries around the world in the weeks that followed then saw air traffic increase six-fold in July, though the 1.3 million arrivals represented just a tenth of the number who flew into Britain 12 months previously.
Figures released today show Heathrow described October as ‘the eighth consecutive month of catastrophic decline’ and with a second lockdown, including England’s ban on leisure travel, now in effect, bosses say ‘November is likely to be even worse’.
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.’
Heathrow said the failure to introduce a coronavirus testing system to ease the 14-day quarantine requirement for international arrivals ‘has left British airports unable to compete with EU rivals’.
Last month, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps launched a taskforce to develop a ‘test and release regime’.
He said this week the system was making ‘very good progress’ and confirmed that the self-isolation period for arrivals to the UK will be slashed after the lockdown ends.
There have been strong rumours that the quarantine could be reduced to as little as seven days, in what would be a desperately needed boost to airlines and business.
Mr Shapps is co-chairman of the Government’s Global Travel Taskforce, which was set up last month to consider measures to support the sector.
A very quiet Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 last week, where just a handful of passengers were travelling due to new lockdown restrictions
Quarantine for arrivals to the UK to be slashed from 14 days after lockdown ends
Quarantine for arrivals to the UK is set to be slashed from 14 days after the lockdown ends, Grant Shapps said this week.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (file picture) told an aviation industry conference that work on a ‘test and release’ system for the border was making ‘very good progress’
The Transport Secretary said work on a ‘test and release’ system for the border was making ‘very good progress’.
He also claimed the mass testing programme launched in Liverpool last week gives ‘hope for optimism’ that quarantine-free travel could be possible.
People arriving in the UK from countries without a travel corridor are required to self-isolate for 14 days in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The aviation industry has repeatedly called for these restrictions to be eased for people who test negative for Covid-19.
There have been strong rumours that the quarantine could be reduced to as little as seven days, in what would be a desperately needed boost to airlines and business.
In a speech to the annual conference of trade body the Airport Operators Association, he said: ‘I want you to know that we’ve been making very good progress on a test to release programme, to launch once we’re out of this lockdown.
‘This will consist of a single test for arrivals into the UK provided by the private sector at a cost to the passenger, allowing us a much-reduced period of self-isolation.
‘Beyond the lockdown, this should encourage more people to be able to book flights with confidence, knowing there is an option which allows them to shorten self-isolation if they’re going somewhere which isn’t in – or does become outside – a travel corridor.’
Mr Shapps said the taskforce – which is due to make its initial recommendations by the end of this month – has been ‘working extensively’ with health experts and the private testing sector on the new regime.
He added: ‘We will report to the Prime Minister, as promised, with recommendations on how we can support the recovery of international tourism and travel, and of course increase consumer confidence.’
Heathrow also warned that the refusal to offer English and Welsh airports business rates relief ‘runs the risk of worsening an already challenging situation’.
It added that plans to end VAT-free shopping at airports ‘threatens to kick our industry when it’s down’.
That sentiment was echoed by top luxury brands, including Gucci, L’Oreal and Tiffany, have warned that the end of duty-free shopping will cost billions and hit the UK economy at the ‘worst possible time’.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is ending VAT refunds for international visitors to British shops from January 1.
It is estimated the move could lead to up to 138,000 job losses and cost the economy £3.5billion. British holidaymakers will also be hit by extra taxes at the till as savings for travellers leaving the UK will be restricted to alcohol and tobacco.
Today 11 leading luxury firms wrote to the Chancellor, warning the move could cost Britain its place as a world-leading tourism and shopping destination. They said the tax hike makes the UK ‘the least competitive duty-free regime in Europe’.