Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech announcing a new lockdown, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association Karen Dee said:
“While airports understand the public health reasons behind the renewed lockdown, this is yet another devastating blow to airports. It comes on top of the EU’s ban on UK nationals traveling to the EU for non-essential purposes.
“We are fast approaching a full twelve months of aviation being effectively shut down, with only limited support for UK airports provided to date. The Government must urgently announce a comprehensive aviation support package, allowing the sector to weather the current dire financial circumstances while protecting jobs and aviation connectivity.
“This must include covering operational losses during the current heightened restrictions and extending all existing forms of support until aviation is able to operate free from the barriers that have prevented any meaningful recovery to date.
“The UK aviation industry will play a crucial role in enabling the UK’s economic recovery and Global Britain, but can only do so if it gets the support necessary to get through the coming months and years.”
