Heathrow Airport’s cargo volumes increase 1.5 per cent in March as the gateway posted its 20th consecutive record month.
During the course of the month, over 150,000 tonnes of cargo travelled through the UK’s biggest port. The strongest growing markets were the USA (1,659 tonnes) and Japan (682 tonnes).
In the first three months of the year, the airport has handled 416,734 tonnes, a rise of 4.3 per cent on the same period last year. On a rolling 12-month basis cargo is up 9.4 per cent at 1.71 million tonnes.
New belly routes were launched last month by Hainan Airlines and Tianjin Airlines to Changsha and X’ian and Qantas also began its first direct service to Perth from Heathrow, boosting cargo volumes.
The Transport Select Committee has announced the backing of the northwest runway at Heathrow, believing this it is the right answer for the UK and laying the groundwork for the parliamentary vote in the summer.
Heathrow chief executive officer, John Holland-Kaye said: “The booming growth in passenger numbers and cargo, particularly from emerging markets, underpins the urgency to secure Britain’s economic future with a third runway at Heathrow – which has now been backed by the cross-party Transport Select Committee.”
