International Air Transport Association: Shanghai replaces London as the world's largest aviation hub

According to The Daily Telegraph on November 26, London has lost its crown as the world's most important travel hub to Shanghai as a number of Chinese cities have risen to the top of global travel rankings.

The report notes that the British capital has plummeted to eighth place in the airline connectivity rankings, having been top this time last year.

London has been hit harder than other big cities, with air connectivity falling by up to 67 per cent, the report said.

London currently trails Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen, as well as Chicago and Los Angeles, according to the International Air Transport Association's air Connectivity rankings.

The report said the figures would deal a fresh blow to London, traditionally the centre of global travel.

Last month, Charles DE Gaulle airport in Paris overtook London's Heathrow to become Europe's busiest airport for the first time. Executives have criticised the UK government for failing to put in place a testing regime that would reduce or even exempt some quarantines.

John Hollen-Kay, Chief executive of Heathrow, said: "Other European countries have been much faster at putting in place testing regimes that have got their aviation sectors up and running again and now we are seeing the results."

Earlier this week, British officials announced that from mid-December, passengers from "red" countries would be quarantined for five days, down from 14.

Iata's Sebastian Mikesh said: "The dramatic change in the ranking of air connectivity shows the scale of the adjustment that has taken place over the past few months. Connectivity has fallen in all markets. The change in the ranking is because some cities have dropped more than others."