Airlines respond to latest international travel announcement – “international travel has not had anything like the reopening it was hoping for”

Commenting on the Government announcement made today on international travel, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

 

“This is another missed opportunity and with the summer season nearing its conclusion means international travel has not had anything like the reopening it was hoping for. This puts us at odds with our European neighbours and clearly does not represent the liberation of aviation that the Prime Minister has spoken of.

“Alongside the continuation of expensive testing and a much smaller than hoped for expansion of the green list – which makes less sense by the day given where we are with the vaccination programme – this is yet another blow to the sector and families desperate to get away, and means the UK continues to open up far slower than the rest of Europe.”

UK airline CEOs letter to the Transport Secretary ahead of this week’s review of the traffic light system

Ahead of the Government’s review of the traffic light system this Thursday, UK airline CEOs wrote to the Transport Secretary outlining the key requirements for the review:

 

Dear Secretary of State,

 

As leaders of UK aviation, we welcomed this week’s announcement that fully vaccinated travellers from the EU and US will be exempt from quarantine requirements. Having fallen far behind our competitors, this is a positive step that will help close that gap, reunite families, and get businesses moving again.

However, we must now build on this momentum by adding more countries to the Green list next week and by reducing the still onerous and increasingly disproportionate burden of testing on travellers. We are increasingly concerned that the UK is not on a path to a sustainable recovery of aviation, due to the continued restrictions that are being imposed on international travel.

In the UK our ‘vaccine wall’ means over 70% of people are now double jabbed and nearly 90% have had a single dose. Case numbers are dropping. Vaccination patterns are similar in many of our key markets not least in the EU and US and latest data from Canada shows vaccines to be highly effective against all variants, including Beta. PHE’s own data shows both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines offer extremely high protection against hospitalisations from Delta, 75% after one dose and 94% protection after two.

The world has changed since the inception of the traffic light system, and ‘Green status’ should increasingly become a default, given the changing risk equation, and mirroring the approach to domestic restrictions. On this basis there is no reason why, and it is essential, that much of Europe including the key volume markets, the US, Caribbean and other major markets, cannot turn green next week in time for the remainder of the summer peak.

If the testing regime remains in place, with its cost and administrative burden, it will have a huge impact on UK aviation – acting effectively as around a £100 tax on flights, on average. It is unclear whether the Government has understood this risk. We have seen no evidence that this regime is necessary for fully vaccinated travellers or those from Green countries, or that effective, cheaper rapid tests cannot be used from higher risk destinations.

We are today seeing no real recovery in customer confidence. The UK aviation recovery is far behind countries in Europe. Travel bookings in Germany are now at 60 per cent of 2019 levels. France is at 48 per cent. Here in the UK, we are booking just 16 per cent of trips compared to pre-pandemic. This is not sustainable.

Despite tentative steps forward, time is fast running out to put the UK’s aviation, travel and tourism industries back on track for a sustainable recovery to protect the millions of jobs they support. We cannot afford to stand still over this vital summer period, and urge you to act.

 

Yours sincerely

  • Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive, Airlines UK
  • Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic Limited
  • Johan Lundgren, Chief Executive Officer, easyJet
  • Sean Doyle, Chief Executive, British Airways
  • Steve Heapy, Chief Executive Officer, Jet2.com Limited
  • Jonathan Hinkles, Chief Executive, Loganair
  • Edward Wilson, Chief Executive, Ryanair DAC
  • Andrew Flintham, Managing Director, TUI UK & Ireland

Airlines respond to Government’s relaxation of restrictions for US and EU arrivals – “a positive step that should pave the way for a return to unrestricted travel in the future”

Commenting on the Government announcement made today on international travel, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

 

“Exemptions for all fully vaccinated travellers is undoubtedly a positive move, offering a lifeline for thousands of businesses reliant on international inbound travel. It also begins to deliver the vaccine dividend for millions more people, for friends and family to reconnect, and for businesses to travel and trade overseas again. 

 

“Ministers should combine this progress with moving more low-risk countries from the Amber to Green list next week to allow more people to travel safely and with confidence. The evidence suggests many more EU countries should go green and this remains the best way to provide passengers with the reassurance to book, along with the removal of onerous testing requirements which are adding hundreds of pounds unnecessarily to the cost of travel.”  

 

“This is still nowhere near the summer season passengers were hoping for, and we remain the only sector that is not allowed to trade on a pre-pandemic basis. But today is a positive step that should pave the way for a return to unrestricted travel in the future.”

Aviation Jobs in Great Britain

New report shows how critical aviation jobs are to every constituency across Britain

  • New report shows that the aviation industry supports over 536,000 direct jobs across every region and nation of Great Britain.
  • Data also shows how vital aviation jobs are to local communities, with one in four Westminster constituencies estimated to have more than 1,000 people employed in the sector.
  • Many constituencies are heavily reliant on aviation for local employment, including:
    • Crawley – over 10,000 aviation jobs
    • Brentford and Isleworth – 8,500 jobs
    • Feltham and Heston – 7,500 jobs
    • Derby South – 7,000 jobs
    • Wythenshawe and Sale East – 4,400 jobs
    • Filton and Bradley Stoke – 3,150 jobs
    • The Prime Minister’s own constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip is reliant on aviation for over 3,350 jobs
  • Average salaries in aviation industry are between 22% – 60% above the national average

A new report, commissioned by Airlines UK and supported by Heathrow Airport, Manchester Airports Group and TUI, shows how critical aviation jobs are to every community and constituency in the country.

Read the report here. Find the detailed data dashboard here.

Data shows just how important aviation is at a local level. Pre-pandemic, over a quarter of all constituencies in Great Britain had more than 1,000 people employed in aviation jobs. Many communities are heavily reliant on aviation, with 5,000 or more residents employed in the sector within airlines, airports or aerospace manufacturers and their suppliers. A further 60% of constituencies in Britain have 500 or more residents working in aviation, demonstrating the wide reach and importance of aviation as a generator of jobs across the whole country.

Importantly, these are well-paid jobs, with average salaries in airlines, airports and aerospace in all cases exceeding the regional average, and between 22% – 60% above the national average.

Read a constituency by constituency breakdown here.

Data shows that before the current crisis the aviation industry directly employed over 530,000 people across the country, reaching every nation and region: the North-East is home to 10,000 people working in the sector; Wales 21,000; the West Midlands 32,000. These numbers exclude those in jobs that would not exist without aviation such as airport retail, hotels, or tourism, so the overall jobs impact will be even higher.

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:
“This report clearly sets out the importance of the UK aviation sector in supporting livelihoods in local communities throughout the entire country. Almost every constituency in the UK is impacted, and many are truly dependant on the well-paid jobs aviation generates. However, today the pandemic continues to put these roles at risk, with a meaningful restart to air travel still yet to materialise.
 
“First and foremost, safeguarding these livelihoods means getting the sector moving again in a proper way, reopening international travel as our rivals across Europe are doing rather than the piecemeal approach we have currently. But it will also require additional, dedicated economic support including furlough extension that recognises aviation’s ongoing crisis, and our longer road to recovery than almost all other sectors.”

Henry Smith MP, Member of Parliament for Crawley, representing the largest aviation workforce in the country with over 10,000 jobs, said:
“With Gatwick within our boundaries it’s not surprising that Crawley is home to more aviation jobs than any other constituency, but the importance of the sector is UK-wide as an internationally connected trading nation. That’s why we need to allow operational recovery from Covid-19 restrictions and ongoing support, such as furlough extension, to save as many jobs as possible at this unprecedented time.”

Diana Holland, Unite Assistant General Secretary, Transport, said:
“Aviation workers are skilled, professional and dedicated people who need extended furlough support now. As long as the Government requires Covid restrictions to travel, then they must also provide support to protect jobs, retain skills and ensure there is a meaningful, sustainable, resilient aviation sector in place in the UK. Aviation keeps us connected, transporting freight like medicines, as well as people. As this report shows, and as Unite has been saying since the beginning of the pandemic, airports and aviation support thousands of jobs across many sectors in communities, as well as vital work in the aerospace sector. Without support all are at high risk.” 

 

Read the report here and the constituency by constituency breakdown here.

Airlines UK appoints Lord McLoughlin as new Chairman

The Executive Committee of Airlines UK has today announced the appointment of Lord McLoughlin CH as its new Chairman.

 

Lord McLoughlin, who has had an extensive career at the top of UK politics for more than 30 years, will take up the position on 1 August, replacing Jane Middleton, who has completed her second 3-year term.

 

Patrick McLoughlin was the Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales between 1986 and 2019. His experience in Government included two years as Government Chief Whip from 2010-2012, four years as Secretary of State for Transport between 2012 and 2016, and two years as Chairman of the Conservative Party and Chancellor to the Duchy of Lancaster from 2016 to 2018. During the Thatcher and Major Governments, he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for aviation between 1989 and 1992.

 

In September 2020, Lord McLoughlin took his seat in the House of Lords.

 

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said:

 

“We are thrilled that following an extensive recruitment process we have secured the services of Patrick as Chairman of Airlines UK. He brings with him unrivalled experience of Government and the political process, and a real passion for and understanding of aviation gained through his period as a Minister and Secretary of State. During these unprecedented times, his knowledge, and the respect in which he is held will stand the Association in good stead, as we look to emerge out of the pandemic, and myself and the Executive team are looking forward to working with him.

 

“It has been a real pleasure to work alongside Jane these past six years, who has provided excellent leadership and support to me and the team, and has had a hugely positive impact on the development of the association. Her love for aviation is infectious and she will no doubt go on to achieve many more great things in the sector over the coming years.”

 

Lord McLoughlin said:

 

“I am delighted to be taking up this role at such a critical time for the industry. Aviation has always been an area of interest for me – even outside my formal duties at the Department for Transport – and I believe strongly that despite the past 16 months the UK airlines’ sector has a strong future ahead of it, if we can work collaboratively with Ministers on providing the support – economic and otherwise – that it needs to prepare for the coming challenges. 

 

“We need to realise what we have in this country – the most dynamic, competitive and consumer-friendly aviation sector in the world but this shouldn’t be taken for granted and needs nurturing. There is much that we can achieve if we work together in the spirit of partnership. 

 

“I pay tribute to Jane’s outstanding leadership these past 6 years, which has seen so much change in a short space of time, and look forward to building on her legacy.”

 

Jane Middleton said:

 

“It has been an honour to Chair Airlines UK for the past six years, during which time the organisation and wider aviation industry has changed almost beyond recognition. Working closely with our world-class airlines has allowed me to see up close what a force for good aviation really is and how proud we should be as a country to have such a competitive and thriving industry, be it passenger or cargo, domestic or international. 

 

“Never has the work of an industry body been more important than it is now and I am delighted to pass the baton to Patrick who I know that, along with Tim and the Executive team, will continue to take the organisation from strength to strength as we build back stronger, greener and better from the pandemic.”

Airlines UK respond to Scottish Government announcement on international travel – “This is a positive step forward, which must be accompanied by further progress”

Commenting on the Scottish Government announcement made today on international travel, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

 

“This is a positive step forward that will provide much more opportunity for families to travel this summer season, and offer greater certainty and reassurance to our passengers looking to get away. It must, however, in short time be accompanied by further progress on the Green list, opening up many more countries to quarantine-free travel for everyone, as well as testing – with the Scottish Government providing more and cheaper options for post-arrival tests. Travel this summer must be within reach and affordable for all, not just the wealthy.”

Airlines respond to Government announcement on international travel – “a positive move towards the genuine reopening the sector has been looking for”

Commenting on the Government announcement made today on international travel, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“This is a positive move towards the genuine reopening the sector has been looking for. Opening up the market for the rest of the summer, this announcement will provide far greater opportunities to travel, do business and see family and friends, and enable many more of our customers to book with certainty. The summer season essentially starts here. 

“Airlines look forward to working with Ministers and Border Force to ensure measures are in place by 19 July to provide a safe and streamlined experience at the UK border. We now urge the Government to continue this momentum by adding many more countries to the green list next week and removing onerous testing requirements at its next review on 31 July, thereby opening up more non-quarantine travel to all.”   

UK Airlines Respond to Government Update to International Travel Restrictions

Commenting on the Government announcement made today on international travel, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“If implemented immediately, this decision will go some way to saving the summer season for our passengers desperate for a family holiday. A vague commitment to ‘next month’ is nothing like ambitious enough – Ministers need to grasp this and decide one way or another. With the domestic economy opening up from 19 July why does travel have to wait? They have the tools and the data to do it immediately and there is no time to lose for a sector on its knees. 

 

“With over 60% of the public now fully vaccinated, if they get a move on it will genuinely open up the market, enabling us to put on more routes to a far greater choice of destinations for customers desperate to get away. It’s vital though that FCDO also amends its travel advice so it is aligned with the rest of Government. If someone has received both jabs the impact is the same whether they are in the UK or abroad and there needs to be a consistent message from all Ministers otherwise there will be further confusion for passengers. 

 

“We’re disappointed that customers will still have to pay for expensive tests when they return, which makes no sense given the effectiveness of the vaccines against all known variants, and we also wanted to see more countries moved onto the green list. The continued caution from Ministers on the country list is odd given the available data that shows the positivity rate for arriving passengers is close to zero, and case rates in key markets across the EU and United States are a fraction of ours. The next review must remedy this by putting data ahead of politics and substantially adding to the green list as a matter of urgency.”  

Airlines respond to Portugal international travel announcement – “a decision that just adds to the belief that Ministers don’t actually want international travel this summer, and want to cut off the UK from the rest of the world”

Commenting on the decision to remove Portugal from the international travel Green list, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“This is a fresh body blow for families desperate to get away and see their loved ones this summer, and the hundreds of thousands of people who work in the travel industry, who are in grave danger of being forgotten. Despite vaccinating millions more people both in the UK and Portugal, we have actually gone backwards since the original country list was published. The vaccine dividend we had built up has now been eroded, and the UK will fall further behind the rest of the EU who are safely opening up their tourism sectors and removing restrictions for vaccinated passengers.

“This is no way to treat passengers. The Government promised a Green watchlist to avoid this very scenario of people being stranded overseas – where is it? This decision just adds to the belief that Ministers don’t actually want international travel this summer, and want to cut off the UK from the rest of the world despite the success of the vaccination programme. If that is the case they should be open and tell us rather than leading us and our customers further down this painful merry dance, and put in place longer-term support measures for an industry now on its knees.”

 

It’s time to get Britain flying again, say aviation, travel and tourism CEOs in new letter to the PM

It’s time to get Britain flying again, say aviation, travel and tourism CEOs in new letter to the PM

  • Travel leaders urge the Prime Minister to follow the science and the Government’s stated policy having moved the goal posts in recent weeks
  • CEO’s warn that the UK is already falling behind the rest of the world and risks throwing away its ‘vaccine dividend’
  • The industry is highlighting that safe travel is possible and an urgent expansion to the international travel Green list is justified including to many European countries, the US and Caribbean, whilst maintaining a robust Red list safety net

CEOs from the UK’s leading aviation, travel and tourism businesses have united to express their concern and frustration at recent comments from Ministers that people should ‘stay in this country’ this summer, in a letter to the Prime Minister in which they call on him to clarify the UK Government’s position on restarting international travel and add many more countries to the Green list.

Travel leaders reiterate their support for the traffic light system and the Red list as a necessary safeguard against the risk of Variants of Concern entering the country. However, the success of the UK’s vaccine rollout and the effectiveness of vaccines in protecting against all known variants, including the Indian variant, supports an expansion of the Green list to low-risk countries now, many of which also have significant levels of vaccinations, rapidly decreasing case numbers and, according to test and trace data, often considerably less than 1% of arrivals testing positive with no identified Variants of Concern entering the country.

CEO’s warn that the UK is already falling behind the rest of the world and risks throwing away its ‘vaccine dividend’, with long term consequences for Global Britain, and that the best way to support this crucial industry is to enable safe travel to resume at scale.

The industry is calling urgently for the Government to make international travel easier this summer by acting on the science and by implementing the following policies and measures:

  • Recognise that many countries are low-risk for travel and add them to the Green list and re-introduce the Islands Policy
  • Recognition of vaccination status so that vaccinated passengers do not need to take a test or self-isolate if travelling from Green or Amber countries
  • Move to Green being Green and remove current restrictions
  • Genuinely drive down the cost of testing – this could be done by removing the levying of VAT on PCR tests and reducing the cost of NHS PCR tests to better stimulate the market
  • Remove the guidance that people should not travel to Amber countries

Andrew Flintham, Managing Director for TUI UK and Ireland, commented: “We have worked closely with the Government on the safe reopening of travel and it is clear that the data supports expanding the green list. Getting away on a much needed holiday to key destinations like Spain, Greece, some Caribbean Islands and the US should now be possible because of the excellent vaccination programme in the UK, increased vaccinations in these destinations, low rates of the virus and no evidence of variants of concern. 

“We’re already seeing other European markets open up to travel and welcome back customers, so now is the time for the UK to do the same. We’re a nation of travellers, so it’s time to stop limiting our ability to travel where it’s safe to do so. Whilst we’ve offered outstanding flexibility for customers this summer, what customers really want is to be able to take the holiday they’ve booked and look forward to.”

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “The UK Government has repeatedly said it will be led by the data, in which case many popular holiday destinations can be added onto the Green List now. Infection and vaccination rates across many of our destinations are improving rapidly, and if you apply what the Government has said, there is no reason why they cannot be safely opened to UK holidaymakers. There is enormous demand for much-needed holidays to the sunshine, and customers want to travel to their favourite destinations like the Balearics, not just to Portugal or a remote island in the South Atlantic. Customers need time to plan their holidays, so we eagerly look forward to positive news in the coming days about where we can fly to.”

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, commented; “We have always said that vaccination is the key to unlocking travel and so now is the time for the Government to bank the gains from the huge success of the vaccination programme and expand the Green list. The science shows that travel can safely reopen to much of Europe now and most European governments have opened up travel for their citizens with far fewer restrictions and exemptions for fully vaccinated travellers. This means British consumers are not only being left behind but could end up unfairly picking up a bigger bill for their trip. And let’s not forget the wider and longer-term consequences of not opening up – for the country’s connectivity, the aviation industry and UK economy as a whole.  

“Customers want to travel this summer – they value their holidays, want to reunite with loved ones after many months of separation and develop their businesses so I urge the Government to increase the Green list and let the UK take off once again.”

Charlie Cornish, CEO of Manchester Airports Group, owner of Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands airports, said: “The Government is holding back international travel despite clear evidence that more countries should be on the green list. The UK’s traffic light system ignores the benefits of our world-leading vaccination programme, which was meant to give Britain a head start and let people visit family and go on holiday this summer. Instead, the Government is actively telling people not to travel to amber list countries despite creating a system that makes it safe for them to do so.

“At the same time, we are requiring millions of people with immunity from Covid-19 to pay for PCR tests to gather data on variants that other governments reliably collect already. With so much at stake, the Government must work transparently and collaboratively with industry to create a simple, fair and sustainable system that will truly get Britain flying again.”

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said: “The UK will rapidly fall behind the rest of Europe unless it looks again at its overly cautious approach to international travel. There is no reason why our green list can’t be expanded to include the US and the most popular European hotspots, or for the UK not to follow the EU’s lead in exempting vaccinated travellers from restrictions. 

“It is time to allow UK citizens to take advantage of the fantastic success of the vaccine rollout but at the moment our competitors are reacting faster to the improving health situation and will reap the rewards this summer.”

Mark Tanzer, CEO of Abta – The Travel Association, said: “It is illogical for the Government to not follow its own traffic light system – it makes no sense for Ministers to say people shouldn’t travel to amber countries when the Government’s own system allows people to do so in a risk-managed way. Travel agents and tour operators, and their customers, need a clear and simple system to follow without contradictions otherwise our sector’s recovery will be unnecessarily slow and drawn out.”

Notes to Editors:

The full text of the letter to the Prime Minister, alongside the list of signatories, is below.

Contact: Tim Alderslade – [email protected] / 0758 4016925

Airlines UK is the trade body for UK-registered airlines and other carriers with a UK operation – with members representing all sectors of the industry. Our members are: 2Excel, AirTanker, British Airways, CargoLogicAir, Eastern Airways, easyJet, FedEx, Jet2.com, Jota Aviation, Loganair, Norwegian UK, Ryanair, Tui Airways, Titan Airways and Virgin Atlantic

Letter to the Prime Minister

Dear Prime Minister,

“Let Britain Fly Again”

As leaders of the UK’s aviation, travel and tourism sectors, we are writing to you to seek urgent clarity on the position of the UK Government regarding the restart to international travel this summer. 

May 17th saw the welcome but extremely limited restart of non-essential international travel, which was intended to deliver a sustainable and robust return of air travel with government policy clear that ‘the resumption of international travel is vital for the economy and the general public, and for allowing families and friends to reconnect and reunite’.

We fully understand concerns about the B.1.617 Indian variant, and potential others. It is clear why India was placed on the red list and we continue to support its use for the highest risk countries. However, formal comments made by Ministers during the last week have moved the goalposts, undermining the very purpose of the risk-based traffic light system.

We were dismayed to hear Ministers say that travel is ‘dangerous’, that people should ‘stay in this country’ and not travel to amber countries – despite this being legal – given that the framework includes such strong safety mitigations. The Government now appears not to want a meaningful restart to international travel this summer, and it is impossible for any business or consumers to plan under this scenario, such that we are genuinely fearful that some UK businesses may fail.

Failures can be avoided. The science shows clearly the green list can be expanded safely now, including to many European countries, the US and the Caribbean. Many currently amber countries have significant levels of vaccinations, rapidly decreasing case numbers and, according to test and trace data, often considerably less than 1% of arrivals testing positive with no identified variants of concern entering the country. Under an evidence-based system based on risk, these should be green.

The UK has never been in a better position to manage the risk from Covid-19. Vaccines prevent people getting ill 95% of the time, protect against all known variants of Covid-19 and reduce transmission by at least 50%. Both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines are highly effective against the B.1.617 Indian variant according to new PHE data. Along with the vaccination programme, our testing system allows us to assess inbound risk from medium and higher risk countries. With this safety net, we urge you to stick to the established framework, end confusion for travellers and allow our businesses to plan.

Whilst we stay grounded, the rest of Europe is now opening up, introducing waivers for vaccinated persons and easing the criteria to lift restrictions for third countries. Spain announced last Friday that anyone who is fully vaccinated can enter without restriction. The UK is falling behind the rest of the world, with long-term consequences for our connectivity and prospects of a Global Britain. To ensure the UK benefits from a vaccine dividend, Government must recognise the protection its successful vaccination programme now provides and the large numbers of countries moving to a low-risk position.  

Airlines can deliver a meaningful restart safely but a second lost summer for the sector, due to a limited expansion of the green list compared to our neighbours, would cause lasting damage to the UK’s aviation, travel and tourism industries. In that case there would be an urgent need for a dedicated aviation economic support package to safeguard many thousands of jobs otherwise under threat and protect the essential infrastructure that will be critical to the UK’s recovery and future prosperity.

We request an urgent opportunity to meet with you to discuss this situation. 

Yours sincerely,

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive, Airlines UK
Johan Lundgren, Chief Executive Officer, easyJet     
Sean Doyle, Chief Executive, British Airways                               
Steve Heapy, Chief Executive Officer, Jet2.com Limited & Jet2holidays Limited
Andrew Flintham, CEO, TUI UK&I
Charlie Cornish, Group Chief Executive, Manchester Airports Group
Michael O’Leary, CEO, Ryanair Group
Jonathan Hinkles, Chief Executive, Loganair 
Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic Limited
Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive, ABTA
Daniele Broccoli, Managing Director, Typically Italian/Typically Spain
Jamie Gardiner, Managing Director, Diverse World