Heathrow pushing for gold medal in cargo

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Team GB at Heathrow Airport returning from the Rio 2016 Olympics


Heathrow Airport is hoping to replicate Team GB’s Olympic medal success by pushing cargo volumes and services to standards worthy of a gold medal.

In August volumes rose by 0.3 per cent to 122,909 tonnes though fast growing markets were very strong, with Latin America up 12 per cent, the Middle East by 5.7 per cent and East Asia by 3.7 per cent.

Heathrow says it handles 30 per cent of exports by value outside the European Union (EU) while Gatwick Airport serves 0.2 per cent. It says following the vote to leave the EU, dubbed ‘Brexit’, the UK must seize opportunities and Heathrow is looking at options to make connections quicker and easier.

Heathrow Airport chief executive officer, John Holland-Kaye says: “We were delighted to welcome the golden heroes of TeamGB back from Rio. They have shown that Britain can be successful against tough international competition by backing our winners.”

“Britain should not accept bronze, when we could so easily win gold. So now is the time to back the winners in our economy and expand Britain’s biggest and most successful port, Heathrow.”

“We can get exporters, large and small, from all across Britain connected to the growing markets of the world, and it is urgent that we get on with it. That is why we are looking at options to connect Britain to growth quicker and cheaper.”