UK aviation is suffering more than European competitors and needs urgent government help before the winter, pilots’ union Balpa warned.
The union highlighted the effect that travel restrictions are having on UK aviation, highlighting new data that shows the UK falling behind its European competitors.
Ahead of this week’s international travel traffic light system review, pilots say it is now vital that the Government announces winter financial support for the sector including a six month extension of furlough, recognising that the ongoing strict Government travel restrictions are constraining recovery for UK aviation.
Balpa urged the government to recognise that the sector is being stifled by the rules.
Ministers need to ensure safe countries are added to the green list as soon as possible and take an active role in repairing public confidence in international travel.
Balpa also warned that the ongoing restrictions have entirely denied a profitable and self-sustaining summer season, which is now all but over.
Travel and aviation are the last sectors to come out of lockdown and the organisation said it is vital the furlough scheme is extended to protect the many skilled jobs that are at risk.
The call came as latest data from Eurocontrol showed that the top three worst affected airports in Europe this month compared to 2019 are in the UK – Gatwick, Manchester and Heathrow.
Balpa acting general secretary Martin Chalk said: “It is devasting to watch government restrictions destroy the once world leading UK aviation industry. These dire figures show it is not the virus that’s killing the sector, but the artificial, over cautious government restrictions on international travel.
“The government has handed our aviation industry the gold, silver and bronze medal for worst affected airports in Europe: a shameful and deeply damaging prize.
“The UK is now clearly lagging behind our European competitors.
“We need the government to recognise the damaging impact its restrictions continue to have on UK aviation and for them to support the only industry still in lockdown by providing a sector specific extension to furlough.
“If we don’t see these measures in place we could see more job losses imminently and UK aviation will fall even further behind its competitors.”