Pilots are calling for urgent action after claiming the government’s “ridiculously cautious” travel restrictions have made Britain’s aviation industry “the hardest hit in Europe”.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) accused ministers of appearing to “deliberately attack” the sector with the measures they imposed during the pandemic.
The union calls on the government to “pull itself together” and open “American roads and European vacation destinations” which it has blocked without “any published evidence”.
Heathrow Airport has been much quieter than usual due to the pandemic
BALPA members will join their colleagues in the aviation and travel industry in a national travel day of action on Wednesday, which aims to pressure the UK government to support a “safe return to international travel in time for the peak summer period.” “.
The union’s analysis of official European air traffic data for June showed that the number of flights to and from the UK fell by three quarters compared to 2019.
The union said its study showed Gatwick and Manchester airports to be the most affected in Europe, closely followed by Heathrow and Stansted.
BALPA says figures from the World Trade Organization of the International Air Transport Association show 860,000 jobs have been lost, or are on leave and are at risk of being, in UK air travel and tourism .
Brian Strutton, general secretary of the union, said: “It’s official. The UK aviation industry is hardest hit in Europe, due to the UK government’s ridiculously cautious restrictions on international travel.
“Unhappy ministers appear to be deliberately attacking aviation and tormenting the public with their mixed messages during the summer recess.
“BALPA demands that the British government pull itself together and open up American roads and holiday travel to Europe …
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-06-20 01:02:00
