Heathrow Airport has seen cargo volumes fall year-on-year (YOY) for the first time in 2015, with a 0.7 per cent dip to 125,067 tonnes in May.
Though May had the second highest tonnage figure of 2015 after March, all the other months saw growth of over two per cent YOY. January saw a YOY increase of 3.3 per cent to 115,847 tonnes, followed by growth of 7.7 per cent in February to 118,248 tonnes. March was up by 2.9 per cent YOY to 136,842 tonnes followed by a 2.2 per cent increase in April to 122,879 tonnes. Between January and May, cargo volumes increased by three per cent to 618,883 tonnes.
Heathrow Airport chief executive officer, John Holland-Kaye says the figures show the need for increasing capacity. “The growth in…exports to emerging markets shows how only Heathrow expansion will keep Britain at the heart of the global economy.”
From June 2014 until May 2015, cargo volumes have increased by 4.9 per cent to 1.5 million tonnes because of growth to emerging markets. The airport says trade with Mexico increased by 44 per cent and Brazil was up 21 per cent.
