Airports press for safe revival of international travel

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) have joined trade bodies and associations from across the aviation and travel industries to support the ‘Travel Day of Action’ today.

They want the UK Government to support a safe return to international travel in time for the peak summer period.

Led by travel and aviation trade bodies such as Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the day of action is calling upon the Government to allow a safe return to international travel by properly implementing the Global Travel Taskforce’s plan for a traffic light system, expanding the Green List in line with the scientific evidence and making restrictions more appropriate, whilst following a strong Red list to guard against variants.

The Travel Day of Action will task a motion for the Government to bring forward a package of tailored financial support, such as the extension of furlough, in recognition of the travel sector’s ability to bounce back being much slower than anticipated.

The campaign warns the travel and aviation industry needs clarity around the Government’s traffic light system and more green destinations adding to the safe travel list.

It says consumer confidence is at an all-time low, impacted by confused messaging from Government.

And it notes the UK lags behind other European countries such as Greece, Spain and Portugal who are keen to kick start the summer season and welcome British tourists, having eased their testing regimes to accept lateral flow test for travellers.

A spokesman for the Travel Day of Action added: “The travel industry supports 221,000 UK jobs and the reopening of international travel is essential for economic recovery.

“The demand for international travel is strong, but travellers need clarity with affordable testing in place, where testing is absolutely necessary.”

Robert Hough, chairman of Peel Airports, said: “Doncaster Sheffield Airport is proud to add its voice to the Travel Day of Action and stand by our aviation and travel industry partners in asking the Government for clarity and transparency on the return to safe international travel in time for Summer.

“Regional airports are vital not only for getting passengers on their well-earned summer holidays to spend time with their families.

“They also have an important economic role to play in the regions they serve too, providing jobs and acting as a catalyst for economic growth.

“We trust the Government will take note of the day of action and offer vital support and clarity for safe international travel in time for the peak summer season along with other parts of Europe.”

DSA is already responsible for an annual contribution of £67m to the wider economy, a contribution that has the potential to grow to £6.5bn by 2037.

LBA says its own passenger numbers are down over 90% due to the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, this airport contributed £377m to the local economy, and supported about 5,230 jobs.

Vincent Hodder, CEO of LBA, said: “Aviation has been impacted on a global scale due to the pandemic and there remains more uncertainty for international travel; the Government’s approach is impairing our ability to meaningfully reopen aviation in the UK and our ability to reach sustainable volumes of customers.

Vincent Hodder

“Travel can be safely reopened using the Government’s framework – other countries have done this. The UK is falling behind.

“Many other closed sectors that have now been able to reopen have benefited from enhanced support beyond the job retention scheme over the last year.

“In the short term, aviation also needs that support to sustain cash flow and protect jobs, as well as greater certainty for our passengers on their ability to travel without restrictions.”

Airport Operators Association chief executive, Karen Dee, said: “The Government’s overly cautious approach to reopening travel has real-world consequences for the 1.6m jobs in the UK aviation and tourism industries that rely on aviation having a meaningful restart.

“Unless the Government makes a meaningful restart of aviation possible by extending the green list at the next review, moving to rapid and affordable tests for returning travellers and following the examples of the EU and the US by reducing restrictions on fully vaccinated passengers, aviation and travel are in for an extremely difficult summer.”

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