Just 867,000 passengers travelled through Heathrow last month, with the airport warning that its “Largely grounded route network continues to strangle the UK economy”.
The figure is down 88.8 per cent down on July 2019, although it is up on the last few months, with Heathrow stating that the UK government’s launch of the first travel corridors on July 4 have resulted in “a slight uplift in passenger traffic”.
Over half (482,000) of the travellers passing through Heathrow last month were heading for European destinations.
Heathrow said that 60 per cent of its route network remains grounded, and again called for airport testing as a way of “safely opening up these routes”.
Heathrow CEO backs Covid-19 testing on arrival to boost traffic
It added that protective measures already introduced included 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.
Commenting on the news John Holland-Kaye , Heathrow’s CEO, 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.“
