“The launch of the new routes coincided with the carrying out of Heathrow’s export climate index for by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), which revealed that £2.9bn worth of experts passed through the airport to non-EU destinations compared with the same quarter last year.

 

The airport also saw a growth in passenger numbers which it says is vital to its case for a third runway. MPs are due to vote on the project in just a few weeks’ time.

 

“Combined with the index’s evidence that sea freight is declining, there is a risk that British exporters could look for alternative routes via European Hub airports to get their goods and services to long-haul markets,” it warned.

 

Heathrow’s Chairman Lord Deighton said: “Our exporters know they are at a disadvantage compared to their European counterparts, because Heathrow’s lack of capacity still means we are taking a limited and piecemeal approach to building long-haul trade routes.”

 

 

View the full article here.