Urgent government support is needed to prevent further large-scale job losses across UK airports.
The boss of Manchester Airports Group warned of “tough decisions” for parts of the sector, which may be forced to act quickly “to secure their future” after the government’s second lockdown announcement banning almost all international travel.
The industry has already been impacted by “chaotic changes in policy” throughout the pandemic.
Charlie Cornish, chief executive of the UK’s largest airport group, called on Boris Johnson to offer an “urgent package of support” to aviation, pointing to dedicated support given to sectors like retail, hospitality and the rail industry.
Arguing that aviation has been left to fend for itself, he also bemoaned the fact that the industry learned of the new travel ban on social media.
He said: “Twitter is not the place where you want to find out that the government is effectively shutting down the business you run.”
Turning to the government’s attitude to aviation, Cornish added: “The fact this development was not deemed worthy of mention in the PM’s address is symbolic of the way government has neglected UK aviation from day one of this pandemic.”
MAG, which operates Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports, has already started a consultation proposing up to 892 redundancies despite remaining open throughout the pandemic.
Support should include relief from business rates – as provided to airports in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – and policing costs, as well as further support with staff costs and reform of passenger taxes to help UK airports win back routes lost during the pandemic.
His plea follows similar calls from the Airport Operators Association, Airlines UK and carriers such as easyJet for specific sector aid.
Cornish added: “Our sector was one of the first hit by this pandemic and one of the hardest hit.
“Promises of specific support in recognition of this predicament were publicly made by government but never materialised.
“Tens of thousands of jobs have already been lost across the industry as a result of the situation we find ourselves in. An urgent package of support must materialise. That must include relief from business rates and policing costs.”
Sustainability of parts of the sector will be in question without support and “UK airports and airlines will need to decide quickly what they must do to secure their future until the situation improves”.