The boss of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays has warned that the government’s recent ‘doom and gloom’ rhetoric could become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
The Labour government has already come under fire for its predictions that the economic situation will get worse before it gets better.
Speaking at the Travel Weekly Future of Travel conference, chief executive Steve Heapy said: “They have spent a lot of time talking the economy down and its prospects, which I don’t think is good. It could end up becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy.”
More: Jet2holidays and easyJet holidays commit to UK growth focus
He also raised fears of the impact of raised taxes on the travel sector in the government’s autumn budget on October 30.
“Businesses will be very nervous,” he said, adding: “We have got to be very careful. With the budget coming up there has been lots of proclamations about what will happen; increases in taxes and perhaps increases in taxes for businesses. Let’s see what happens; they may affect travel.”
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays recently put forward a manifesto for economic growth to the government at the Labour Party conference, with a focus on economic stability, getting Britain building, sustainability, backing British business, skills and making work pay.
Heapy said he was more positive about the government’s approach to the issue of sustainable fuel – its SAF mandate is due to take effect on January 1, 2025 – and airspace modernisation to reduce C02 emissions by 10%.
But he said there needed to a timeframe with an end deadline in place.
“The UK government has done very little in the last few years. If they commit doing something [now] that would be good.
“Under the last government the speed was glacial [in fact] that would be an exaggeration [but] I don’t think we have a completion date for airspace modernisation.”
EasyJet holidays chief executive Garry Wilson welcomed the government’s intention to focus on sustainable fuel as “very important” but insisted: “We don’t believe SAF is the panacea. It’s a good first step.”
Overall, he felt “hopeful” about the new government’s approach to sustainable aviation, adding: “They are talking about it more than the last government; the fact they have made a pledge on [airspace] modernisation. We just have to see if they are walking the walk.”