Heathrow encourages government to alter travel restrictions


FILE PHOTO: A worker sanitises a barrier at the International arrivals area of Terminal 5 in London's Heathrow Airport, Britain, August 2, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
FILE PHOTO: A worker sanitises a barrier at the International arrivals area of Terminal 5 in London's Heathrow Airport, Britain, August 2, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
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LONDON (Bywire News) - On Monday, Heathrow airport revealed that their passenger numbers remained 71% lower in August in comparison to the same time last year, pre-pandemic. It also urged the government to reform its travel restrictions in order to help recover the industry.

In 2019, Heathrow was ranked the busiest European airport, and now it has dropped to 10th place. According to Heathrow, it's the governments' complicated and expensive rules that are holding it back, while its competitors continue to grow.

On Monday, John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow said, "The government has the tools to protect the UK's international competitiveness which will boost the economic recovery and achieve its Global Britain ambitions,"

"If ministers fail to take this opportunity to streamlinethe travel rules then the UK will fall further behind as trade and tourists will increasingly by-pass the UK."

(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Michael Holden and Klaudia Fior)

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