A financial support package, designed to help airports through the new tighter travel restrictions, has been announced a day after the UK closed all of its travel corridors, however, the new package has done little to impress the wider UK travel industry.
Aviation Minister Robert Courts said via Twitter: “The Airport and Ground Operations Scheme will help airports reduce their costs and we will be aiming to provide grants before the end of this financial year. Further details to follow soon.”
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) welcomed the announcement but renewed its call for an aviation wide COVID-19 recovery plan.
BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton said: “We are pleased our message that aviation needs real support is being heard. This support for airports is a good step, but we must ensure that no part of the UK aviation sector is overlooked.
“On top of Thursday’s announcement of 1,100 Norwegian Air jobs at risk, a major US tour operator has now said it will look at other hubs for European trips instead of London. The situation is becoming desperate.
“The industry as a whole is really suffering and we continue to urge the Government to commit to a full action plan for aviation with targeted packages of support for the whole sector.”
