Travel Day of Action: BALPA says it is ‘make or break’ for summer travel
It is now ‘make or break’ for the summer travel season as pilots urge politicians across the UK to pressure the government to save the summer.
As part of a ‘Travel Day of Action’ on Wednesday, pilots are taking their message directly to’ MPs in Westminster, MSPs in Holyrood and MLAs’ in Stormont.
They will also be taking part in activities at Edinburgh, Bristol, Belfast, Manchester, Luton and Heathrow airports.’
British Airline Pilots Association is joining the rest of the UK travel industry to call on the government to’ urgently introduce a science-based’approach to opening-up safe’ travel, extend the furlough scheme and provide financial support to save jobs.
Brian Strutton, BALPA Acting General Secretary said: "The government has to decide if this summer it will make or break the UK travel industry. Pilots are meeting politicians across the UK to urge them to put pressure on the government to act now.".
"Extending the furlough scheme and direct support to airlines and airports would save jobs and companies as we head into the winter,so that’ we have a’ leisure and business travel industry ready to bounce back quickly post-pandemic."
Pilots are calling on the UK government to allow international travel to return safely and in a risk managed way and bring forward a package of tailored financial support, including extension of furlough support.
A BALPA analysis of data from European air traffic agency ‘Eurocontrol’ showed that the number of flights into and out of the UK has sunk by nearly three-quarters (73%) in the latest official data, compared to 2019.
The data shows that Gatwick and Manchester airports are the worse affected in Europe, with Heathrow and Stansted close behind.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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