UK airports ‘Europe's worst affected’

Pilots’ union BALPA has released figures its says show that UK aviation is suffering more than European competitors – and needs urgent government help.

It points to August data from Eurocontrol, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation, which names the top three worst-affected airports in Europe as Gatwick, Manchester and Heathrow.

BALPA says ministers need to ensure safe countries are added to the green list as soon as possible and take an active role in repairing public confidence in international travel.

Its acting general secretary, Martin Chalk, said: “It is devastating to watch government restrictions destroy the once world leading UK aviation industry.

“We need the government to recognise the damaging impact its restrictions continue to have on UK aviation and for them to support the only industry still in lockdown by providing a sector-specific extension to furlough.

“If we don’t see these measures in place we could see more job losses imminently.”

https://www.eurocontrol.int/sites/default/files/2021-08/covid19-eurocontrol-comprehensive-air-traffic-assessment-12082021.pdf