UK. London Heathrow Airport served over 860,000 passengers in July, down by -88% on July 2019 but a sharp uptick compared to June (350,000). The airport company said the UK government’s introduction of the first ‘travel corridors’ on 4 July had a positive impact in the month.
More than half of passengers, over 480,000, travelled to European destinations, without the need to quarantine on their return. Heathrow said that 60% of its route network “remains grounded, requiring a 14-day quarantine on arrival, preventing the UK from travelling to and trading with these countries”. It added: “Airport testing could safely open up these routes and kickstart the UK’s economic recovery.”
Heathrow has introduced a range of measures such as UV robots, UV handrail technology, Fly Safe pit stops and Hygiene technicians to reduce the risk of contracting or transmitting COVID-19 at the airport.
Airlines at Heathrow have also rolled out a new Summer route network, notably to short-haul, leisure routes including Dubrovnik, Genoa and Verona. Domestic carrier Eastern Airways has announced plans to operate from Heathrow for the first time. It will launch flights to and from Teesside International Airport from September.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “Tens of thousands of jobs are being lost because Britain remains cut off from critical markets such as the US, Canada and Singapore. The government can save jobs by introducing testing to cut quarantine from higher risk countries, while keeping the public safe from a second wave of COVID.”
