Industry relations with government and Whitehall officials’ understanding of the sector improved as a result of engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic, say industry specialists in public affairs.
But the sector still needs to be “realistic” about what can be achieved by lobbying the government, particularly with a general election due by the end of next year.
Iata UK and Ireland country manager Simon McNamara told an Abta Aviation Forum in London: “The one positive in the pandemic is that the industry and government got much closer.
“We were on calls several times a week and we have some new tools such as the Aviation Industry Council where officials can talk to us.
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“We do have a government that understands the industry better now.”
But McNamara argued: “We have to be realistic about the political situation. There has been a lot of political change in the last 12 months – that has an impact – and we’re 18 months from a general election.
Abta director of industry affairs Luke Petherbridge agreed, saying: “One of the big benefits of Covid has been the improved understanding across government.”
He suggested that, at the start of the pandemic, the government “didn’t really understand how distribution works. It was thinking about how the pandemic affected airlines and airports and not the wider travel industry.
“It’s something they understand better now, but we are still working on it.”
Petherbridge added: “We are spending a lot of time engaging with the Labour Party.”
McNamara acknowledged: “Agents are a very important distribution channel [for airlines]. The challenge has been getting officials to understand how travel distribution works.”
The pair noted they “work together throughout the year”, with Iata and Abta both represented on the Aviation Industry Council alongside airlines, airports, aviation associations, air traffic controllers, the Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport.
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