The volume of cargo being handled by Heathrow Airport continued to slide last month, new figures have confirmed.

There was a three per cent downturn in freight activity at the UK's largest airport in April when compared to the corresponding month in 2012 and this is a reflection of the overall softening of world trade.

Bosses at the London-based aviation hub also revealed that passenger numbers fell by 0.7 per cent year-on-year in April.

Some 5.8 million people passed through the facility last month, but airport chiefs said the statistics are skewed by the fact Easter fell in March this year, rather than April.

Meanwhile, Heathrow chief executive Colin Matthews was pleased to report the highest ever passenger satisfaction ratings received in one quarter by the airport.

"We want to keep making Heathrow better for our passengers and airlines by continuing to invest," he remarked.

Heathrow has been in the headlines lately, with MPs urging the government to introduce a third and maybe even a fourth runway at the airport.