Pilots at Bristol Airport to join day of action
They're calling for urgent action to help aviation because of the "devastating'' impact of the pandemic on UK airlines and airports
Pilots at Bristol airport will be joining a day of action - calling for urgent help for the aviation industry, following the coronavirus pandemic.
The aviation and travel industry will take their message to MPs in Westminster, and MSPs in Holyrood, as part of a nationwide Travel Day of Action on Wednesday.
The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said the UK aviation industry has been the hardest hit in Europe by restrictions on international travel.
Its analysis of official European air traffic data for June showed that the number of flights into and out of the UK has fallen by three-quarters compared to 2019.
According to world trade body the International Air Transport Association, 860,000 jobs in UK aviation travel and tourism have been lost or are on furlough and are at risk of being lost, said Balpa.
General secretary Brian Strutton said: "It's official. The UK aviation industry is the hardest hit in Europe, caused by the UK Government's ludicrously cautious restrictions on international travel.
"Hapless ministers give all the appearance of deliberately attacking aviation and tormenting the public with their mixed messages over summer holidays.
"Balpa is demanding that the UK Government gets its act together and opens the US routes and European holiday travel destinations that it has blocked with no published evidence at all.
"If the country is going to build back better from the pandemic and build new international links with partners for trade and travel, we are going to need a thriving aviation industry. There is no time to hide behind task forces and reviews."
A Government spokesman said: "We recognise the challenging times facing all sectors of transport as a result of Covid-19, which is why we have put in place an economy-wide support package, including around? £7bn of support expected to benefit the air transport sector by September 2021.
We continue to work with the aviation sector to help them navigate this period, and encourage them to draw on the unprecedented package of support measures available.''
Separately, Bristol Airport's announced two new domestic routes - starting from next month
It's hoped flights to Aberdeen and Jersey will mean more people will be able to take a break within the British Isles this summer
The routes with Easy Jet will be taking off from the 10th of July.