Heathrow passenger numbers fell by 88% in November as travel restrictions and a second lockdown in England took their toll.
Terminal 4 will remain out of operation until the end of 2021 based on current forecasts and continued decline in passengers, the London hub revealed. The terminal shut in May during the first national Covid lockdown.
The number of passengers using Heathrow dropped to 747,000 against the same month last year. Key transatlantic travel declined by almost 95%.
The airport is working with transatlantic carrier British Airways, American Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic on a cross-industry study aimed at eradicating the need for quarantine for passengers through pre-departure testing.
At the same time, Heathrow is calling for targeted, sector specific government support to protect jobs and help drive the UK’s economic recovery from the Covid crisis.
Aid should include full business rates relief for all UK airports and abandoning the “tourist tax” which will make the UK the only country in Europe not to offer tax-free shopping for international visitors.
The move is expected to result in 2,000 retail job losses at Heathrow alone.
Heathrow chief executive 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 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.”