Over 80 Parliamentarians call for comprehensive support package for aviation, travel and tourism sectors

Over 80 Parliamentarians have today backed a call from the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Future of Aviation for the Prime Minister to urgently support the aviation, travel and tourism industries following the recent closure of all travel corridors. 

The cross-party group of Parliamentarians acknowledge that the latest restrictions were a necessary measure to protect the UK public from the spread of new variants of COVID-19 but highlight that these industries need urgent support to recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic. 

In letter, the Parliamentarians call for a comprehensive ‘Aviation, Travel and Tourism Recovery Package’ to provide immediate financial and additional support alongside a pathway to allow aviation to come out of these restrictions when safe to do so.  

The letter which was organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Future of Aviation and its Chair Henry Smith MP was also signed by former Aviation Minister Paul Maynard MP, former Transport Minister Stephen Hammond MP, DUP Westminster Leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP, and SNP Transport Spokesperson Gavin Newlands MP. 

Commenting, Henry Smith MP, Chair of the APPG for the Future of Aviation said:  

“The closure of all travel corridors was a necessary measure to protect the public from new variants of COVID-19 but will be another hammer blow to industries which have faced the pandemic without the same levels of support afforded to other sectors. 

“It is now or never, action must be taken to support the businesses, their supply chains, employees, and communities who have borne the brunt of the near total collapse of UK passenger numbers. 

“Our aviation, travel and tourism industries will be vital to our long-term economic recovery and the Government must urgently deliver a full and comprehensive package of support and a pathway for the reopening of international travel when it is safe to do so.

“After nearly twelve months of historically low passenger numbers our world class aviation, travel and tourism industries are running on empty and the consequences of failing to support them are unthinkable and will put the brakes on our economic recovery before it has even begun.”