Airport losing £5m each day amid crisis

Heathrow Airport is losing £5 million a day as its passenger numbers have sunk to under 10% of normal levels.

A director of the London airport stated it was losing an “eyewatering” amount of money as it campaigns for international standards for air travel.

At the Courier Business Conference yesterday, retail director Fraser Brown said: “We find ourselves almost back where we were in April and May.

“There are around 20 ,000 th rough Heathrow today, we are less than 10% of typical November traffic and those numbers are only going in one direction.

“We are losing an eye watering amount of money every day.

“We have supportive shareholders and because of Heathrow’s track record we’ve been able to tap into the financial markets to borrow and that will have to be repaid.”

Mr Brown said the airport had installed on-site testing facilities and hoped there would be international standards introduced for air travel.

He noted that standardised measured were enforced in 2006 when the restrictions on carrying liquids on to planes were introduced in light of terror threats.

He said: “Our first priority is protecting people, passengers and staff.

“I want people to feel as safe as they did in February.

“What is important is that industry and governments start to develop common standards – without those there is confusion and that undermines confidence.”

Mr Brown highlighted the importance of routes to the US re opening again, noting that American visitors last year spent £4 billion in the UK.