11th May 2020 11:05
(Alliance News) - Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd on Monday reported April traffic figures, demonstrating just how badly the travel restrictions to fight the Covid-19 pandemic has hurt the industry.
The airport owner also called on the UK government to lay out plans for reopening borders. Going in the opposite direction, the prime minister on Sunday announced plans for a 14-day quarantine for new UK arrivals, heaping further pressure on an already fragile aviation sector.
Heathrow Airport, usually one of Europe's busiest, reported a 97% fall in April traffic to just 200,000 passengers, the sort of numbers it would normally see in just one day.
During the month, 1,788 cargo only flights were operated, delivering crucial supplies of personal protective equipment, Heathrow noted.
"The airport supports government's aim of avoiding a second wave of infection, even though the 14-day quarantine plan will effectively close borders temporarily. It is likely that few passenger flights will operate and even less people will travel until the quarantine is lifted," Heathrow said.
Though the airport added: "Heathrow calls on government to lay out a road map for how borders can eventually be reopened and to take a lead in developing a common international standard so that passengers can travel freely between low risk countries once the infection rate has been brought down."
The travel sector has been battered by lockdowns implemented globally as governments grappled to halt the spread of Covid-19.
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, owner of British Airways, on Thursday reported a quarterly operating loss of EUR1.86 billion. IAG has also warned of 12,000 job losses at the British carrier.
Also warning of redundancies were Ryanair Holdings PLC and Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd, both saying that 3,000 jobs could be slashed. The latter also said it will move its operations from London Gatwick airport to Heathrow, as part of measures to "reshape and resize" the business.
Carriers were lower on the London Stock Exchange on Monday morning. easyJet PLC lost 7.0% to 494.40 pence, IAG was 4.1% lower at 182.65p, while Ryanair was 2.7% lower at EUR9.01.
By Eric Cunha; [email protected]
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