海角视频

The operators of Exeter Airport have joined calls for a package of measures to support 海角视频 aviation battling to survive through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Minister for Aviation and Maritime, Robert Courts MP has promised 'more details soon' in a tweet about the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme, initially announced in November.

It promises to reduce the 'additional costs faced' due to the pandemic and will of each airport eligible for funding.

Minister for Aviation and Maritime sent this tweet - industry is calling for more support measures

In November, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the 拢100million package will from next year provide support for 24 airports, including Exeter and Bristol, which have been hit by travel restrictions placed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

But with no start date or further information, hard-hit airports and aerospace businesses are calling for urgent action and have set out a plan for long term recovery.

Regional City Airports, which owns and manages six 海角视频 regional airports including Exeter, Bournemouth and Norwich Airports has already welcomed support on the business rates relief, announced in November, and is urging government to set a start date without further delay.

A spokesman said: "In the light of the much worsening financial situation airports are facing two months on - culminating in this week's closure of air corridors - the Government needs to urgently introduce a much broader package of support including regional connectivity incentives to see the sector through the unprecedented, critical months ahead."

Exeter Airport was hit just before the first lockdown in England with the collapse of airline Flybe. The airline, which supported 80% of flights at the airport, went into administration on March 5 with the loss of 931 jobs.

The airline has since been , but there has been no indication that it will return to Exeter.

The airport has secured the restart of a number of former Flybe routes and Dublin Aerospace has restarted at Flybe鈥檚 former facilities at the airport.

But passenger numbers have been hit hard. The coronavirus crisis saw passenger numbers down by 94% during August.

Passenger numbers at the Airport in May 2019 were 97,000 and in May 2020 the equivalent figure was just nine. From the beginning of the financial year to the end of the July passenger numbers dropped by 99.5% compared to the same period last year.

In October, East Devon District Council approved a 拢1million bailout to stave off potential closure of the airport.

The to support the ailing airport include a further deferral of 拢180,000 of business rates relief, forward-funding the airport鈥檚 拢750,000 share of the Long Lane road enhancement scheme and to endorse the concept of a sustainable aviation cluster centred on Exeter Airport.

A spokesman for Bristol Airport, the South West's biggest airport said they were being represented in the call by the industry body for all airports, the Airport Operators Association (AOA).

Action needed after tough travel restrictions imposed

The 海角视频鈥檚 Aviation and Aerospace industries have come together to call on the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce a package of support to protect companies from the effect of tough new restrictions imposed on travel, including the closure of travel corridors on January 18 until at least February 15.

ADS, Airlines 海角视频, and the Airport Operators Association (AOA), who together represent 海角视频 airlines, airports and aircraft manufacturers, have called for measures including financial support for companies affected, swift delivery of a more resilient testing system to support a resumption in international travel, and relief from levies, duties and charges.

Airlines 海角视频 Chief Executive Tim Alderslade said:鈥淲ith the lockdown, travel ban and now mandatory pre-departure testing, 海角视频 airlines start 2021 having taken one step forwards and two steps back. Without the ability to bring in critical revenue, there remains a limit to the amount of debt carriers can take on, having already done everything asked of them by the Chancellor and absorbed billions from private investors, banks and the Treasury.

鈥淯ltimately, if we cannot re-open travel the future of 海角视频 aviation will be bleak indeed but we鈥檙e hopeful Government will step in and recognise its importance and contribution to 海角视频 plc, so we can continue delivering for passengers.鈥�

This month 海角视频 flight volumes have fallen to around 80 per cent lower than comparable figures from 2019. Across Europe, air traffic numbers more than 60 per cent lower than pre-crisis levels.

There have already been 15,000 job losses in 海角视频 aerospace manufacturing linked to the impact of the pandemic on industry, while 30,000 job losses have been announced by 海角视频 airlines. The AOA estimates that total job losses across 海角视频 airports and associated businesses is likely to exceed 110,000.

Airport Operators Association Chief Executive Karen Dee said:鈥淎irports are major employers in their regions and engines of national and regional economic growth, vital to both the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 global Britain and levelling-up agendas. The near-total collapse of air traffic over the last twelve months is thus devastating for communities around airports and the 海角视频 as a whole.

鈥淭he Government鈥檚 lack of comprehensive support for aviation is effectively tying one of the 海角视频鈥檚 hands behind its back 鈥� economic recovery will be more difficult and take longer."

ADS Chief Executive Paul Everitt said aviation and aerospace are among the worst affected sectors from this ongoing crisis, and any signs of recovery have been thrown into reverse by new restrictions on travel. He said: "Many companies now need specific support measures to survive and to avoid putting thousands more jobs at risk."

What is the aviation industry asking for?

ADS, Airlines 海角视频 and the AOA are calling for an Aviation and Aerospace Recovery Plan that includes:

• Relief from business rates for aviation and aerospace companies to assist with cashflow pressures and temporary removal of industry payments for CAA and other regulatory charges

• Measures to stimulate demand , support the viability of airlines and strengthen a recovery as restrictions are lifted. This should include a temporary suspension of Air Passenger Duty for 12 months, as and when aviation is ready to fly at scale, alongside the ending of the double APD charge for those who travel domestically in the 海角视频. In addition, grants should be made available to airlines and further access to loans at pre-Covid rates.

• Sector-focused support for companies affected by restrictions and further loss of demand, including access to the 拢500m discretionary fund and long-term investment funding for the aerospace supply chain.

• Swift delivery of the recommendations from the Government鈥檚 Global Travel Taskforce , with a pathway to a more resilient, quicker and cheaper traveller testing system that eliminates or significantly reduces quarantine, working with international partners to prioritise key travel corridors and establish common testing protocols. This could include the Government subsidising testing costs for passengers.

• A commitment to enhance the 海角视频鈥檚 Jet Zero ambitions by increasing support for Sustainable Aviation Fuels and doubling funding for the Aerospace Technology Institute to underscore the long-term investment opportunities in the 海角视频.