Heathrow Airport’s cargo volumes continue to surge with 4.4 per cent growth in February to 127,000 tonnes.

It says emerging markets drove the cargo growth, with Brazil up 10 per cent, India by five per cent and China by 4.2 per cent, while North America grew seven per cent and the Middle East by eight per cent.

Cargo volumes have grown 4.4 per cent in the first two months of 2017 to 251,212 tonnes and by 3.2 per cent to 1.5 million tonnes between March 2016 and February 2017.

Chief executive officer, John Holland-Kaye says: “Heathrow is off to a flying start in 2017 – we’re delivering the best service of any major airport in Europe to record numbers of passengers and boosting British exports with record cargo volumes.”

“Our new sustainability leadership strategy will make Heathrow a centre of excellence for sustainable aviation and planning for expansion is firmly underway with SMEs across Britain lining up to help us deliver it.”