Cargo tonnage fell year-on-year by 5.9 per cent in April at Heathrow Airport with the North American and Asia Pacific markets the main drivers of the decline as tonnage fell in both.
However, the airport said trade through Heathrow performed stronger than any other European hub, with cargo increasing in the Latin American (+15.1 per cent) and African (+11.4 per cent) markets.
In the first four months of the year, tonnage fell three per cent to 541,137 tonnes. The Asia Pacific market was down 5.1 per cent in the period, and North America down 3.2 per cent but Africa was up 11.5 per cent and Latin America 16.5 per cent.
Heathrow chief executive officer, John Holland-Kaye said: “Increasing passenger demand and new long haul and domestic routes is a reminder of the critical role aviation plays in our economy, connecting all of Britain to global growth.
“However, to maintain the economic benefits of flying for future generations, aviation must play its part in keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees. Carbon is the problem, not flying, and Heathrow is taking a lead in moving the global aviation sector to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
