![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/2.53686035.jpg\")
Heathrow\u2019s passenger numbers fell by 97% in April compared with the same month in 2019.<\/p>\nHeathrow\u2019s passenger numbers fell by 97% in April compared with the same month in 2019.<\/p>\n
The airport announced that it was used by just 206,000 travelers last month, which is \u201cthe same number it would typically serve in just one day\u201d.<\/p>\n
The coronavirus pandemic has led to a collapse in demand for flights.<\/p>\n
Many of the passengers who did travel through Heathrow last month were on board the 218 chartered repatriation flights that landed at the west London airport.<\/p>\n
Heathrow is expecting demand to \u201cremain weak\u201d until countries lift their coronavirus lockdowns.<\/p>\n
The impact of Covid-19 on global trade is highlighted by the amount of cargo passing through Heathrow last month falling by 62% to 51,000 metric tonnes.<\/p>\n
This is despite the number of cargo-only flights being up to 14 times per day higher than normal.<\/p>\n
Most cargo is normally carried in the belly hold of passenger jets, which have mostly been grounded.<\/p>\n
Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: \u201cAviation is the lifeblood of this country\u2019s economy, and, until we get Britain flying again, UK business will be stuck in third gear.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Government needs to urgently lay out a road map for how they will reopen borders once the disease has been beaten, and to take an immediate lead in agreeing a common international standard for health in aviation that will allow passengers who don\u2019t have the infection to travel freely.\u201d<\/p>\n