Newly-formed trade lobbying body the Travel Industry Alliance has confirmed membership of the Future of Aviation Group.
The group, which was set up in May 2020, provides the secretariat to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Future of Aviation chaired by Crawley MP Henry Smith, whose constituency includes Gatwick.
The Future of Aviation Group was set up to campaign for government support for the aviation, travel and tourism sectors as they look to recover from the impact of Covid-19.
The TIA with its nine trade associations and more than 7,500 member companies, will join current Future of Aviation Group member Abta to represent a full cross section of the travel industry.
The key focus of the Future of Aviation Group is on the need for a comprehensive support package for the aviation, travel and tourism sectors and a pathway for safe reopening of international travel, a call recently backed by 86 parliamentarians.
Danny Callaghan, co-chairman of the TIA and chief executive of the Latin America Travel Association, said: “With this disruption likely to last through 2021 at least in some form, it is essential that the government work with industry and all interested parties to ensure that our world class aviation, travel and tourism industries recover from the greatest challenge they have ever faced.”
Aito deputy chairman Derek Moore, also co-chairman of the TIA, added: “The Future of Aviation Group has recently had great success in garnering the prime minister’s attention when more than 80 MPs backed a call to urgently support the aviation, travel and tourism industries following the recent closure of all travel corridors.
“This is the kind of cut through we need to help push our agenda’s forward through to the key decision makers who determine our futures.”