When Heathrow reported its 2020 traffic volume figures In January, the airport's CEO, John Holland-Kaye, reflected on an "incredibly challenging" year for aviation. Holland-Kaye added: "The aviation industry is the cornerstone of the UK economy but is fighting for survival." As lockdowns continue to be enforced around the globe, the latest figures show little let up in this crisis. Compared to the same period last year, March 2021 saw a fall of 83 percent in passengers passing through its terminals.
Speaking in March, Holland-Kaye struck a defiantly positive tone: “Aviation has always led the UK economy out of recession, and we will do so again. The PM’s Global Travel Taskforce can lead the way on reopening international travel and trade safely – but ministers must get a grip of Border Force’s performance so that visitors get a warm welcome to Britain, not a 6 hour queue.”
