Heathrow airport has called on its airline partners to use available capacity to operate cargo flights to transport food and medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The London hub is stepping up its cargo capacity as a result of quieter passenger schedules. It said its cargo movements are forecast to increase by 53 per cent next week as more airlines and freighters use the spare capacity to transport goods.

According to Heathrow, pharmaceutical products are one of its top imports, with the airport handling 41 per cent of the UK¡¯s incoming pharmaceutical goods by value.

The airport said it is taking steps to help its airline partners during the outbreak, including free parking for aircraft that have been grounded and bringing forward growth incentive payments.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: ¡°This is an unprecedented time for the international community, with Covid-19 requiring us all to work together, adapt and adopt extraordinary measures to quell the spread of this virus. For the first time in a decade, our airport has additional capacity in its schedule, capacity which we¡¯ve begun to see used to help push vital supplies across the globe to help support frontline teams in the battle against this pandemic.

¡°We stand ready to support the country through this crisis. Our intention is to remain open at all times to serve those passenger flights that will continue to operate. And as the UK¡¯s biggest port, we will temporarily increase the number of dedicated cargo flights. These will bring in vital supplies of food and medical equipment to help Britain weather this storm.¡±