Heathrow overall cargo volumes down by 32.5% in March

Heathrow Airport’s overall cargo volumes were down by 32.5% in March as a result of passenger aircraft being grounded.

Normally operations account for 95% of cargo in the hold of passenger planes. Passenger demand has fallen by more than 90% in April due to the lockdown, compared to 2019.

The airports traffic has slumped by 52% during March after travel was heavily restricted to stop the spread of coronavirus.

On 6 April Heathrow reduced flight operations to just one runway, and will only use terminals 2 and 5 over the coming weeks

Cargo flights with medical supplies are being prioritised by the airport, with 31 March being the busiest for cargo flights.

Britain’s supply chain of food and medicine could eventually stop as almost half of the country’s haulage companies are now off the road.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) have warned that many haulage firms are on the brink of going under, and we are reaching crisis point.

Supermarkets, cash and carry’s, factories, distribution centres and ports all rely on lorry firms to move goods around Britain.

An RHA survey found that 46% of haulier’s lorries have been taken of the road since coronavirus started, and many could go bust as the trucks are doing nothing.

Thousands of employees at Heathrow Airport face being sacked if they refuse to accept a 15% pay cut over the pandemic.

Employees at the airport were told that “dismissal and reinstatement might be the final step” should they not agree.

Paula Stannett, the HR chief sent a very strongly worded memo to staff they “are not expecting anyone to opt out,” Sky News reported.