Heathrow records huge fall in April passenger numbers as Covid-19 crisis hits demand

Heathrow Airport on Friday laid bare how the coronavirus crisis has hit the travel sector, as it said passenger numbers for last month are expected to be down 97%.

Europe’s busiest airport, which remains open to help people get home and to secure vital supply lines for the UK, said passenger numbers declined by 18.3% during the first quarter to 14.6 million.

The number for April is expected to be down around 97%.

Travel restrictions have hit all sectors of the industry, including airlines, airports and package holiday operators.

Heathrow predicts demand will remain weak until governments around the world deem it safe to lift travel restrictions. Overall revenue fell 12.7% to £593 million in the quarter.

Underlying profits fell by 22.4% to £315 million.

Heathrow’s chief executive John Holland-Kaye called on international airports and governments to agree on a common standard on safe travel, to help the economy recover from the virus crisis.

Holland-Kaye told the Evening Standard: “We should have a consensus for all airports for when lockdowns ease. That includes us adopting the same measures, such as potentially all staff and passengers wearing face masks, temperature checks for customers, and matching cleaning procedures.”

Heathrow said: "Common measures across the world would help passengers build confidence in flying so that the personal and economic benefits of global travel can continue after Covid-19."