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Government using aviation ‘as a punch bag’ to distract from own failings

Industry figures have hit back at government criticism of the aviation sector, pointing out the “worst crisis” in the sector’s history was caused by “one of the most restrictive travel regimes in the world”.

Industry body Airlines UK pointed out the sector has had “only weeks to recover” while Clive Jacobs, travel industry entrepreneur and chairman of Travel Weekly parent Jacobs Media Group, accused the government of “using the industry as a punch bag to distract from its own behaviour”.

Their comments came after an unnamed government source hit out at flight delays and cancellations in the run-up to the Jubilee bank holiday as “completely unacceptable” and junior minister Lord Stephen Parkinson told Sky News: “There have been many months where we have been back on track. The industry should have been recruiting people.”

Airlines UK responded: “We’re still emerging from the worst crisis in the history of aviation.

“Airlines were grounded for almost two years as a result of one of the most-restrictive travel regimes in the world and the sector has had only a matter of weeks to recover and prepare for one of the busiest summers in many years.

“Despite this, and without the ability to know when restrictions would be removed or predict how much flying would be possible, the vast majority of the many tens of thousands of UK-departing flights will be operating as scheduled.”

Airlines UK insisted: “The focus now should be on our customers, with airports, airlines and government working together to ensure they get away over the summer.”

The Airport Operators Association (AOA), noted in a statement: “The UK had one of the most restrictive travel regimes in Europe and these [restrictions] were only lifted fully in March.

“It is great to see so many passengers return so quickly. Airports anticipated it would be challenging at peak times and have had big recruitment campaigns underway since before the start of this year.

“But until the restrictions were lifted, uncertainty about the future of travel made this difficult. Since then, there has been a very positive response and airports are now seeing additional staff complete the required vetting and training.

“As a result, while queues may be longer at certain times at some airports, most passengers are getting away on their holidays smoothly.”

The AOA insisted: “The focus now must be on continuing to improve the service to customers.

“We will work closely with airlines and ground handling companies and with government to ensure we are ready for the summer getaway.”

Jacobs said the industry “was left with no choice but to lay off or furlough a lot of people” and argued government restrictions “turned people away from working in the industry because of the uncertainty about when work would come back”.

He said: “It’s barely three months since the market re-opened. There was no doubt businesses would face immense challenges to rebuild workforces.

“The government’s behaviour is despicable. They are using the industry as a punch bag to deflect from their own despicable behaviour around one rule for them and another for everyone else.

“They’re showing contempt by attacking companies which have been through the greatest stress.”

However, Jacobs also criticised industry leaders, saying: “The industry didn’t put up enough resistance to the government and the way it mishandled the virus.

“I’m concerned that the industry just gets kicked around and has not communicated the challenges it is facing.

“No one is communicating that the industry is trying its best but that it has been brutalised over the last two years. It has been pummelled by governments around the world and it is fighting to get back on its feet.”

He argued: “My concern is around confidence in our industry. A lot that has happened is outside our control. But the industry is poor at communicating to the public. Confidence in the industry has been damaged by that.”

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