London Heliport temporarily closes citing Covid-19 impact

London Battersea Heliport has temporarily closed due to the ‘severe impact’ on operations caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The heliport announced today that it is pausing all flights with immediate effect and will be unable to provide full services until the UK’s national lockdown has been lifted.

A company spokesperson said in a statement that it expects the heliport to remain closed until the 13 April, where reopening will be subject to review. It will not take any future bookings during the closure.

London Heliport General Manager Simon Hutchins commented. “We would like to recognise the hard work and dedication of our team at the heliport.  Everyone has been working tirelessly to ensure we adhere to Government guidance at all times.”

The heliport is working closely with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Public Health England (PHE) to ensure it is taking the necessary steps and has the most up to date information as the situation develops.

Battersea is London’s only public heliport. It predominantly operates charter flights, sightseeing and interlining services to and from London Oxford Airport. It is also a hub for emergency response helicopters, seeing approximately 700 public, government and military movements per year and more than 560 HEMS flights.

“We expect operations to recommence in the future and will consistently ensure that our dedicated clients and stakeholders are updated with any changes, as soon as clarity is provided,” a company spokesperson said.