London Heathrow has joined US airports in implementing targeted screening measures in response to the escalating Ebola threat, after the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt announced that the virus is likely to hit the UK.

 

Although it’s debatable how effective the new airport screening measures are in containing the spread of the disease, the response from UK airports is thought to be more about raising awareness and preventing panic.

 

“The welfare of our passengers and colleagues is always our main priority and we are working with Government to support the implementation of targeted screening measures as announced by the Health Secretary today,” said London Heathrow in a statement yesterday.

 

“We would like to reassure passengers that the Government assesses the risk of a traveller contracting Ebola to be low. We would encourage anybody with individual questions or concerns to refer to guidance from Public Health England and the Foreign Office.”

 

BUSIEST SEPTEMBER

The UK’s biggest airport served 6.58m passengers in September,  an increase of 0.3% on September 2013, making it the airport’s busiest ever September.

 

Passenger growth at Heathrow continued to be supported by larger, fuller, quieter aircraft. Within emerging markets, passenger volumes increased 17.6% to Mexico, 14.9% to China and 10.3% to Brazil.

 

Heathrow continued to welcome the transfer passengers that make such long-haul routes viable, with volumes increasing 2.9%.

 

According to LHR, two independent polls underlined growing support for Heathrow’s expansion amongst MPs and local residents. “A majority of MPs now support an additional runway at Heathrow, with 91% of those who support also believing it will secure parliamentary approval (Ipsos MORI),” says LHR.

 

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: “September saw growing support from MPs and local residents for expansion at Heathrow as the best solution to the UK’s hub capacity crisis. Heathrow handles a quarter of all British exports by value, but is full. More and more people are asking “how can we double Britain’s exports if we don’t expand Heathrow?”