Heathrow passenger numbers fall as Coronavirus impacts travel picture

Heathrow passenger numbers fall as Coronavirus impacts travel

10 March, 2020

Heathrow passenger numbers fall as Coronavirus impacts travel

 

  • Passenger numbers fall to 5.4 million, down -4.8% on last year after adjusting for the extra leap day, due to lower demand on Asian and European routes. Demand has continued to weaken going into March and Heathrow expects a further year-on-year decrease in coming weeks.
  • Regular deep cleaning introduced across all terminals as well as increased availability and provision of hand sanitisers. Dedicated Public Health England (PHE) team remains in place at the airport, implementing clinically-informed, evidence-driven processes to support passengers showing symptoms of the virus. Current processes include an early warning system allowing airline crew to report any illness on board flights ahead of landing.
  • In February, the airport saw over 115,800 metric tonnes of cargo pass through its doors, down 9.5%, as the effect of coronavirus was felt on global trade.
  • The UK aviation industry committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with UK Government targets. Heathrow became one of the world’s first major aviation hubs to become carbon neutral for its infrastructure, and published its own pathway to help the industry achieve the net zero 2050 goal as soon as possible.
  • The Court of Appeal found the NPS process followed by Government failed to take into account the Paris Agreement, and the NPS has been suspended pending either a successful appeal to the Supreme Court or the government addressing the procedural issue with the NPS.  Heathrow expansion remains the only option to deliver the government’s vision of a Global Britain and is widely supported locally and nationally.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye, said:

“The threat of Coronavirus is an increasing challenge for the UK and we are working day and night to ensure Britain’s front door is open and safe for our people and passengers. We will continue to work with the Government to limit the impacts this will have on UK plc.”

 

TRAFFIC SUMMARY 

FEBRUARY 2020

Terminal Passengers
(000s)

Feb 2020

% Change

Jan to
Feb 2020

% Change

Mar 2019 to
Feb 2020

% Change

Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

             347

8.2

             707

9.2

           4,900

3.5

EU

           1,829

-1.6

           3,707

0.8

         27,492

-0.6

Non-EU Europe

             425

1.5

             863

2.0

           5,711

-0.0

Africa

             279

1.8

             595

1.4

           3,523

4.0

North America

           1,168

7.3

           2,506

5.9

         18,974

4.0

Latin America

             103

-2.5

             220

-3.2

           1,375

0.8

Middle East

             589

8.7

           1,266

8.1

           7,846

2.8

Asia / Pacific

             702

-19.6

           1,678

-11.2

         11,196

-3.2

Total

           5,442

-0.7

         11,541

1.2

         81,016

0.9

       
       

Air Transport Movements

 Feb 2020

% Change

Jan to
Feb 2020

% Change

Mar 2019 to
Feb 2020

% Change

Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

           3,151

21.3

           6,582

23.0

         41,959

10.7

EU

         15,086

-2.6

         30,927

-2.2

       208,570

-1.7

Non-EU Europe

           3,477

0.1

           7,123

0.1

         43,570

-0.3

Africa

           1,230

-0.8

           2,557

-1.6

         15,186

3.6

North America

           6,144

5.0

         12,779

3.1

         83,800

1.3

Latin America

             462

-3.3

             959

-4.9

           5,955

-1.8

Middle East

           2,474

7.0

           5,112

3.8

         30,771

0.5

Asia / Pacific

           3,208

-12.8

           7,129

-8.9

         46,374

-2.1

Total

         35,232

0.3

         73,168

0.4

       476,185

0.2

       
       

Cargo
(Metric Tonnes)

Feb 2020

% Change

Jan to
Feb 2020

% Change

Mar 2019 to
Feb 2020

% Change

Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK

               35

-47.7

               93

-10.3

             576

-32.1

EU

           6,230

-11.2

         12,824

-10.8

         92,843

-12.6

Non-EU Europe

           2,920

-37.1

           6,307

-32.0

         54,043

-7.3

Africa

           7,401

-4.7

         14,036

-7.9

         92,141

0.2

North America

         47,763

-3.7

         90,303

-7.2

       557,946

-9.3

Latin America

           3,494

-19.1

           7,424

-13.0

         53,248

-0.2

Middle East

         20,217

5.1

         40,037

2.1

       259,899

1.5

Asia / Pacific

         27,800

-21.5

         60,730

-18.7

       449,682

-12.0

Total

       115,859

-9.5

       231,753

-10.5

    1,560,378

-7.8