Heathrow urges Ministers to announce a Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate at COP26 to cut aviation emissions
Passenger numbers remained at just under 40% of pre-pandemic levels in September, whilst EU rivals enjoyed stronger resurgence over summer. North American traffic is only 25% of 2019 levels. Cargo, which is carried in the hold of passenger planes, was close to 8% down by volume on 2019, reflecting the way in which travel restrictions have been damaging UK exports and supply chains.
We welcome the easing of testing requirements and red-list reduction, which will make international travel simpler, cheaper and less stressful for all passengers. The removal of PCR tests for vaccinated travellers in October and the opening up in the US should mean that passengers can book with confidence for Half Term and Christmas travel, and put us on track for recovery.
We are delighted that IATA has made a global commitment to net zero aviation by 2050, which is a key milestone to securing a global agreement at ICAO in September 2022. We urge the UK government to show leadership by putting the policies in place to scale up the production of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK – a progressively increasing mandate, a price support mechanism (such as contracts for difference), and loan guarantees.
Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye said: “We should aim for 2019 to have been the peak year for fossil fuel use in global aviation. The UK Government can show real leadership in decarbonising aviation at COP26, by setting a progressively increasing mandate and a plan to use contracts for difference to accelerate the transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the UK, which will protect the benefits of flying for future generations.”
September 2021
Terminal Passengers
(000s)
Sep 2021
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2021
% Change
Oct 2020 to
Sep 2021
% Change
Market
UK
207
110.8
1,040
-13.2
1,302
-46.7
EU
1,173
79.5
4,045
-41.1
5,234
-61.3
Non-EU Europe
195
51.2
818
-46.6
1,069
-63.2
Africa
81
67.5
607
-33.1
847
-52.8
North America
398
371.9
1,459
-59.1
1,756
-78.6
Latin America
44
273.8
190
-45.5
273
-60.5
Middle East
265
134.6
1,035
-48.8
1,477
-63.3
Asia / Pacific
210
76.0
968
-61.9
1,340
-74.7
Total
2,571
104.6
10,163
-46.4
13,299
-65.8
Air Transport Movements
Sep 2021
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2021
% Change
Oct 2020 to
Sep 2021
% Change
Market
UK
1,734
91.8
10,837
-9.3
14,045
-37.9
EU
9,939
45.6
42,262
-36.9
57,662
-51.0
Non-EU Europe
1,618
31.9
8,031
-42.6
10,965
-55.6
Africa
630
22.6
5,353
-0.3
7,440
-19.5
North America
3,305
61.4
22,395
-19.5
29,281
-39.4
Latin America
329
95.8
1,777
-18.3
2,564
-29.8
Middle East
1,632
41.9
11,353
-9.1
15,498
-24.0
Asia / Pacific
2,061
26.9
15,858
-13.5
22,175
-26.1
Total
21,248
46.9
117,866
-25.9
159,630
-42.3
Cargo
(Metric Tonnes)
Sep 2021
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2021
% Change
Oct 2020 to
Sep 2021
% Change
Market
UK
21
233.0
185
-17.3
205
-46.0
EU
9,677
40.1
90,559
78.5
115,928
55.8
Non-EU Europe
5,402
29.0
49,665
75.8
67,467
58.5
Africa
5,088
-2.0
56,151
23.5
79,860
15.8
North America
39,635
36.5
342,713
19.6
442,834
3.6
Latin America
2,275
-23.4
15,647
-32.7
26,164
-28.4
Middle East
19,665
13.8
166,591
8.4
224,596
1.5
Asia / Pacific
34,627
40.4
286,740
27.8
382,681
12.9
Total
116,389
29.0
1,008,251
24.1
1,339,736
10.7
Passenger numbers remained at just under 40% of pre-pandemic levels in September, whilst EU rivals enjoyed stronger resurgence over summer. North American traffic is only 25% of 2019 levels. Cargo, which is carried in the hold of passenger planes, was close to 8% down by volume on 2019, reflecting the way in which travel restrictions have been damaging UK exports and supply chains.
We welcome the easing of testing requirements and red-list reduction, which will make international travel simpler, cheaper and less stressful for all passengers. The removal of PCR tests for vaccinated travellers in October and the opening up in the US should mean that passengers can book with confidence for Half Term and Christmas travel, and put us on track for recovery.
We are delighted that IATA has made a global commitment to net zero aviation by 2050, which is a key milestone to securing a global agreement at ICAO in September 2022. We urge the UK government to show leadership by putting the policies in place to scale up the production of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK – a progressively increasing mandate, a price support mechanism (such as contracts for difference), and loan guarantees.
Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye said: “We should aim for 2019 to have been the peak year for fossil fuel use in global aviation. The UK Government can show real leadership in decarbonising aviation at COP26, by setting a progressively increasing mandate and a plan to use contracts for difference to accelerate the transition to Sustainable Aviation Fuel in the UK, which will protect the benefits of flying for future generations.”
September 2021
Terminal Passengers
(000s)
Sep 2021
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2021
% Change
Oct 2020 to
Sep 2021
% Change
Market
UK
207
110.8
1,040
-13.2
1,302
-46.7
EU
1,173
79.5
4,045
-41.1
5,234
-61.3
Non-EU Europe
195
51.2
818
-46.6
1,069
-63.2
Africa
81
67.5
607
-33.1
847
-52.8
North America
398
371.9
1,459
-59.1
1,756
-78.6
Latin America
44
273.8
190
-45.5
273
-60.5
Middle East
265
134.6
1,035
-48.8
1,477
-63.3
Asia / Pacific
210
76.0
968
-61.9
1,340
-74.7
Total
2,571
104.6
10,163
-46.4
13,299
-65.8
Air Transport Movements
Sep 2021
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2021
% Change
Oct 2020 to
Sep 2021
% Change
Market
UK
1,734
91.8
10,837
-9.3
14,045
-37.9
EU
9,939
45.6
42,262
-36.9
57,662
-51.0
Non-EU Europe
1,618
31.9
8,031
-42.6
10,965
-55.6
Africa
630
22.6
5,353
-0.3
7,440
-19.5
North America
3,305
61.4
22,395
-19.5
29,281
-39.4
Latin America
329
95.8
1,777
-18.3
2,564
-29.8
Middle East
1,632
41.9
11,353
-9.1
15,498
-24.0
Asia / Pacific
2,061
26.9
15,858
-13.5
22,175
-26.1
Total
21,248
46.9
117,866
-25.9
159,630
-42.3
Cargo
(Metric Tonnes)
Sep 2021
% Change
Jan to
Sep 2021
% Change
Oct 2020 to
Sep 2021
% Change
Market
UK
21
233.0
185
-17.3
205
-46.0
EU
9,677
40.1
90,559
78.5
115,928
55.8
Non-EU Europe
5,402
29.0
49,665
75.8
67,467
58.5
Africa
5,088
-2.0
56,151
23.5
79,860
15.8
North America
39,635
36.5
342,713
19.6
442,834
3.6
Latin America
2,275
-23.4
15,647
-32.7
26,164
-28.4
Middle East
19,665
13.8
166,591
8.4
224,596
1.5
Asia / Pacific
34,627
40.4
286,740
27.8
382,681
12.9
Total
116,389
29.0
1,008,251
24.1
1,339,736
10.7
