Industry responds to Scottish government’s updated travel restrictions
AOA and AGS Airports have expressed their disappointment in the Scottish government's lack of a recovery plan or framework for Scotland's aviation industry.
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AOA and AGS Airports have expressed their disappointment in the Scottish government's lack of a recovery plan or framework for Scotland's aviation industry.
AOA has welcomed the UK government's acknowledgement of aviation's economic significance, but has stressed that the outlined date for the easing of international travel restrictions will only prolong the industry's struggle.
With the financial support provided by business rates relief only expected to assist English airports for approximately 13 days, the AOA has called on the UK government to implement an additional and more extensive financial scheme.
AOA has called for urgent additional, aviation-specific financial support from the UK and devolved governments in order to support the recovery of the industry.
The scheme will allow commercial airports and ground handlers to apply for up to £8 million each from the UK government to support with fixed costs.
Karen Dee, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association (AOA), assesses the state of the UK airport industry, which is still grappling with the ongoing repercussions of COVID-19, and calls on the UK government to do more to ensure its survival.
The UK government's travel ban has been extended to the UAE, Burundi and Rwanda in order to prevent the importation of a new COVID-19 variant found in South Africa.
With all travel corridors with the UK now temporarily suspended in order to protect the nation from the importation of new strains of COVID-19, the Chief Executive Officer of the AOA has once again stressed the urgency of immediate financial support for the UK airport and aviation industry.
The decision is part of the UK government's efforts to help to protect against the importation of new strains of coronavirus that are currently circulating globally.
Following the announcement that England is being placed into a third national lockdown, AOA has called for better financial government support for the UK aviation industry in order to cover operational losses during the current heightened restrictions.
Passengers arriving in England from countries that are not featured on the UK government's travel corridor list will now need to self-isolate for 10 days, instead of 14.
The strategy will work to support the aviation industry's recovery by limiting travellers' required self-isolation period upon entering England after travelling to countries not featured on the UK government’s travel corridor list.
AOA has outlined a package of support measures to help airports through the challenging winter months and is calling on the UK government to deliver them.
The UK government will adapt the existing country-based approach to travel corridors by separating some islands from mainland countries.
The re-introduction of a blanket quarantine measure is the wrong approach and risks further damaging the fragile re-start of the UK aviation sector.