Member Article

Cargo volumes up 7% as Heathrow buoyed by expansion decision

Heathrow Airport has announced that cargo volumes have jumped again at the airport capping a buoyant month at the transport hub following the government’s decision on expansion at the end of October.

According to Heathrow, cargo volumes were up 7% in October although total passenger numbers were down slightly to 6.5m from 6.8m in September, along with a 1.2% year-on-year drop which it blamed on last month’s Hurricane Matthew in the US.

The airport accounted for 30% of all UK exports by value outside the EU last year, and Heathrow has seized upon the latest increase in cargo numbers to further argue that the government’s decision to green light expansion was the right one.

Consultations on a draft policy statement are due to begin in 2017, but it is predicted to be a long and arduous road to getting a third runway built at the London airport with continued opposition and legal battles on the horizon.

Heathrow Chief Executive Officer John Holland-Kaye said that the airport had already started planning how to deliver a third runway and was keen to emphasise that the benefits of expansion would be felt right across the UK.

He said: “With the support of communities across the UK, Heathrow is now working at pace to deliver the benefits of Britain’s new runway – an affordable plan that creates more jobs, boosts exporters and builds an economy that is stronger and fairer for everyone – as quickly as possible.”