Brexit BOOST for Heathrow Airport: Cargo volumes 'soar' since historic referendum
HEATHROW has enjoyed a Brexit boost with cargo volumes “soaring” since the referendum, Britain’s biggest airport revealed today.
Heathrow has enjoyed a Brexit boost with cargo volumes soaring since the referendum
The biggest increases in tonnage shipped are to countries outside the EU, pointing the way to new markets And last month the airport handled a record 6.8 million passengers, reflecting growing numbers of overseas visitors taking advantage of the weaker pound.
The airport also said that shaking off EU constraints will allow it to increase the number of services to UK regional airports which it calls “Brexit Boost Routes”.
It said: “As well as adding vital extra capacity on existing routes, the end of EU regulation offers an opportunity to ring-fence some of the new slots for ‘Brexit Boost Routes’.
“These include new domestic connections such as Humberside, Dundee, Newquay or Liverpool and new long-haul trade routes to growth markets such as Osaka, Kochi, Wuhan and Quito.”
Heathrow released the figures with a Government announcement on the siting of a new runway in the southeast, expected by the end of the month.
Heathrow and Gatwick are locked in a fierce lobbying battle to win the extra capacity.
The airport’s September figures show a six per cent increase in cargo volumes year on year
The Airports Commission last year recommended a £17.6billion third runway at Heathrow - though building this risks alienating Tory constituencies across London.
We’ll show that we’re confident about our future and determined to make a success of Brexit
But Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “The Prime Minister is clear that her Government will step up and do what’s right for Britain.
“Expanding our country’s largest port will give Britain’s businesses the best connected trading network in the world. We’ll show that we’re confident about our future and determined to make a success of Brexit.”
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye believes expanding the airport is best for the economy
The airport’s September figures show a six per cent increase in cargo volumes year on year.
This was driven by growth to non-EU markets in East Asia and Latin America with Brazil up 18 per cent, China 13 per cent and Mexico seven per cent.
The Airports Commission last year recommended a £17.6billion third runway at Heathrow
Growth in passenger numbers was strong, with China up seven per cent and India and Mexico both up five per cent.
Heathrow claims to be the UK’s largest port and accounted for almost 30 per cent of all UK exports by value outside the EU last year.