UK. London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 will remain closed to travellers until the end of 2021. The airport company announced the decision as it revealed November traffic results today. Heathrow passenger volumes fell by -88% year-on-year in November to 747,000 as travel restrictions and the latest lockdown in the UK took their toll.
The continued decline in travellers, allied to the latest forecasts for recovery, led to the move to keep T4 non-operational for a further year.
Heathrow is also continuing to urge the government to abandon plans to abolish tax free shopping for international visitors, saying the “disastrous tourist tax” will hurt UK competitiveness.
As reported, Heathrow is one of many organisations to have called on the UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak to reverse the proposed abolition of tax free shopping and the VAT refund scheme in January.
Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “2021 should be the year of Britain’s economic recovery. But recent announcements, such as the tourist tax, could be the final nail in the coffin for struggling businesses such as restaurants, hotels and theatres that rely on inbound tourists, as well as for retailers. To make Global Britain a reality, the government should be helping the aviation sector to survive, to develop routes to our key trading partners, and attract businesses and tourists to come to Britain to spend their money.”
Heathrow has also partnered with transatlantic carriers British Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic on a cross-industry study aimed at eradicating the need for quarantine for passengers. The study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of pre-departure testing in reducing transmission while making free movement easier.
