Heathrow Airport has seen cargo volumes fall by 3.8 per cent in March to 131,661 tonnes, following strong growth in January and February.
Between January and March, cargo volumes have increased by 0.4 per cent to 372,299 tonnes having seen growth of almost three per cent in both January and February. Despite the fall, Heathrow says East Asian cargo volumes are up six per cent helped by Vietnam Airlines moving from Gatwick and increasing Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City services, and British Airways launching Kuala Lumpur services. Garuda Indonesia also started direct services to Jakarta.
Heathrow Airport chief executive officer, John Holland-Kaye says: “I’m delighted that we’ve added the UK’s first direct connection to Indonesia. As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, Garuda Indonesia’s new route will be a significant boon for British SMEs looking for new export opportunities.”
He continues: “But it isn’t just Indonesia waiting to access the UK’s only hub – there is a queue of over 30 airlines waiting for slots from Heathrow. With expansion, we can supercharge British trade by opening up 40 new long haul trading links with the fastest growing markets in the world. Let’s make it happen.”
Heathrow Airport has launched its WebPortal for consolidating freight loads and decreasing the number of trucks on the road.