Heathrow records strongest month of pandemic with 1.5million passengers in July – but is still 80% down on pre-Covid levels

• Heathrow saw surge in passenger numbers in July – the highest of the pandemic
• More than a 1.5 million passengers travelled, an increase of 74% on July 2020 
• However, number is still 80% below the pre-Covid figure recorded in July 2019 

Heathrow recorded its highest monthly passenger total of the coronavirus pandemic in July – thought the numbers are still 80% less than they were before Covid. 

Some 1.5 million passengers travelled through the west London airport in July after restrictions on international travel were eased.

This represents a 74% increase compared with the same month last year, but is still more than 80% below the figure for July 2019.

The airport called for the cost of coronavirus tests to be reduced to enable more people to travel.

Fourteen new countries and territories were added to the Government’s quarantine-free green list on June 30, including Spain’s Balearic islands, Malta, Madeira and a number of Caribbean destinations.

Demand for travel was also boosted after it was announced that fully-vaccinated arrivals from countries in the amber tier would be exempt from the 10-day quarantine requirement from July 19.

Heathrow saw 1.5 million passengers in July after restrictions on international travel were eased

Brits can fly to German from as little as £21 from mid August as airlines slash their fares in a bid to encourage more passengers to head abroad this summer. Pictured: Frankfurt in Germany

Heathrow chief operating officer Emma Gilthorpe said: ‘Finally, some blue skies are on the horizon as travel and trade routes slowly reopen. The job, though, is far from complete.

‘Government must now capitalise on the vaccine dividend and seize the opportunity to replace expensive PCR tests with more affordable lateral flow tests.

‘This will ensure travel remains attainable for hard-working Brits desperate for well-earned getaways and keen to reunite with loved ones before the summer travel window closes.’

But concerns about the cost of testing remain.

All UK arrivals must take at least one PCR test, typically costing around £50.

Airlines are slashing their prices to popular holiday destinations in a boost for lockdown-weary Brits hoping to snap up last-minute getaways.

Countries that have moved up the Government’s traffic light system have seen their fares drop in a bid to encourage holiday-seekers to head abroad this summer.

Seven new destinations were added to the UK’s green list as of 4am on Sunday – Germany, Austria, Latvia, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania – and all have seen a drop in price for flights.

However, it should be noted that Austria requires tourists to quarantine for 10 days while Norway is not currently permitting tourists to enter the country. 

According to price comparison site Skyscanner, tickets direct to Frankfurt, in Germany, can be bought for as little as £21 from next Monday while you can head to Cologne from £33.

Seven countries were added to the Government’s green list as of 4am Sunday morning including Germany, Romania, Latvia, Austria and Norway. Pictured: The city of Cluj Napoca in Romania

From mid August, holidaymakers can pick up fares from £27 and head to Latvian capital Riga

Countries already on the green list have seen fares drop including Croatia. Pictured: Dubrovnik

Holidaymakers can fly to the Austrian capital Vienna from £27 or head to Riga, in Latvia, from £26.

Meanwhile, Cluj-Napoca, in Romania, which is considered the unofficial capital of the Transylvanian region, will only set you back £18 for a flight there from mid August.

But it’s not just the new arrivals to the green list that have seen a drop in price. Popular tourist destinations including Croatia and Malta, which were both already green listed, have also seen fares slashed.

Skyscanner is showing flights from £93 for a one-way ticket to Split or £143 to Dubrovnik while flights to Malta are going from as little as £55.

Destinations on the amber list – where unvaccinated travellers must self-isolate while double jabbed Brits must provide a negative test – have also seen fares drop as airlines try and boost passenger numbers.

This was especially true of countries that had been rumoured to move to the amber plus list but have remained amber including Portugal and Greece.

Passengers can pick up flights to Faro in Portugal from £9 from mid August or to Porto from £24.

You can also find fares from as little as £22 to Greece’s Santorini or £13 to Santander in Spain.

And those looking to take advantage of the relaxed rules regarding travel to amber-listed France could head to popular spots from as little as £9.

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