Airports industry chief outlines steps for return to normal operations

The industry chief for airports has suggested ways in which the Government can help the sector prepare for post-lockdown conditions, and help sustain its recovery.

Only this week, the parent group of Manchester Airport announced £260m-worth of backing from Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities to help it weather the impact of the pandemic, and budget airlines flying from both Manchester and Liverpool airports revealed an almost total drop in passenger levels during April.

In addition, long-haul operators Virgin Atlantic and British Airways announced cutbacks and redundancies to conserve their cash reserves.

Following her appearance at the Transport Select Committee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, Karen Dee, said: “The recent British Airways and Virgin Atlantic announcements underline the massive impact COVID-19 is having on the aviation sector.

“The UK needs a strong, vibrant airline and airport sector that is able to compete domestically and internationally to deliver the routes and accessible air fares that passengers and businesses rely on.

“As I outlined to the Transport Select Committee today (May 6), for UK aviation to recover we need the Government to take a number of steps.

She said these include:

• Airports need clear public health measures, based on medical advice, that ensure passenger safety and wellbeing while facilitating travel
• These should be applied consistently across UK aviation and transport more widely
• The standards should be proportionate, time-limited and as international as possible in their application
• It should be accompanied by government communications to prepare passengers for what to expect when travelling
• Crucially, the sector must have the ability to deny passengers boarding if they do not comply with the agreed health standards

Ms Dee said that, in light of the expected long road to recovery, continued financial support will be necessary to ensure that UK airports can facilitate the re-start of the aviation industry.

She said the Government should invest in the future success of the UK’s aviation industry or risk UK aviation falling behind international competitors. This requires:

• Relief from business rates and continued deferral of other taxes
• Establishment of route development funds or specific funding measures aimed at re-starting regional and domestic air connectivity
• Reform of aviation taxes, including a temporary suspension of APD (Air Passenger Duty).

She also recommended that the Job Retention Scheme should be tapered or phased out, in order to retain staff needed for when the recovery picks up.

And, on passenger welfare grounds, she said airside retail and food & drink outlets should be exempt from the general restrictions applied to high-street venues as soon as traffic returns.

“We look forward to the committee’s continuing scrutiny of government and working with Ministers to put these measures in place,” she added.