Heathrow boss warns on China hit

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Heathrow is full to capacity and cannot take on new routes.

Its traffic to China, including Hong Kong, dropped 0.7% in January compared with the same time a
year earlier.

By contrast, rival European hubs in Paris and Frankfurt saw the number of passengers flying to China increase by 9% last year. Amsterdam grew
at 6%.

Colin Matthews, chief executive of the Heathrow's owner BAA, warned British trade was suffering as a result.

"Business leaders in the world's fastest-growing economies say they are put off investing in the UK because of a lack of direct flights. Heathrow's China traffic declined this month, in marked contrast to our European competitor hubs.

"Capacity constraints are damaging the UK economy today when the country can least afford it." Last year BAA blanketed Westminster Tube station in advertisements declaring that "no island can afford to be an island" after the Government decided not to allow a third runway at Heathrow.

Overall, the world's busiest airport handled 5.2 million passengers last month, a record for January.