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

Airlines respond to international travel announcement – “a missed opportunity and a reopening in name only”

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

“This is a missed opportunity and with so few countries making it onto the Green list represents a reopening of air travel in name only.  

“By contrast the EU has said vaccinated people will be able to travel without restrictions which leaves the UK at risk of falling behind and not opening up international travel to key markets across Europe as well as the United States.

“We strongly believe that, alongside the domestic economy, travel can be safely reopened and so we must see major additions to the Green list at the next review point in three weeks, alongside a simpler and much reduced testing burden so that travel does not become the preserve of the wealthy only.”  

 

UK airlines welcome EU announcement on reopening international travel & urge UK to follow suit in recognising game-changing vaccination rollout

Commenting on the announcement by the European Commission that vaccinated passengers will be able to travel to the EU this summer, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“This is an extremely important announcement that will pave the way for the reopening of the EU’s tourism and travel industry in time for the peak summer season. The EU should be congratulated for recognising that the success of the vaccine rollout – coupled with sensible vigilance around variants – is a game-changer that can and should enable a risk-based and proportionate system of international travel to resume. It is frustrating that the UK has not gone down the same road, with Ministers here still reluctant to acknowledge that we can be more ambitious with our own plans, taking advantage of one of the most impressive vaccination programmes in the world, alongside quicker, cheaper testing and our globally renowned genomic sequencing capability. It’s about getting the risk balance right and we don’t believe the UK has done that yet.”

UK airlines respond to Global Travel Taskforce report publication

Commenting on the publication of the Global Travel Taskforce report, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“This does not represent a reopening of travel as promised by Ministers, and the insistence on expensive and unnecessary PCR testing rather than rapid testing – even for low-risk countries – will pose an unsustainable burden on passengers, making travel unviable and unaffordable for many people. It is also a further setback for an industry on its knees and the UK’s wider economic recovery, with many businesses and exporters reliant upon our domestic and international connectivity and a thriving aviation sector. 

“All the evidence suggests you can reopen travel safely and in a risk-based manner with more proportionate measures, and we urge Government to work with industry on a faster, cheaper and less complex solution”.

 

UK airlines respond to PM statement on resumption of international travel – “does not provide the clarity we were seeking on the roadmap back towards normality”

Commenting on the latest announcement from the Prime Minister on the resumption of international travel, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Whilst we support the establishment of a framework for restarting international travel and welcome the removal of self-isolation for arrivals from green countries, today’s announcement does not provide the clarity we were seeking on the roadmap back towards normality. We await further details but the measures indicated, including the potential for multiple tests for travellers even from ‘green countries’, will prevent meaningful travel even to low-risk destinations.

“Of critical importance will be moving countries – transparently – through the tiers into ‘green’, reviewing measures urgently in light of the latest and best available evidence so that they are effective but also proportionate to the risk, and crucially embracing cost-effective rapid testing thus ensuring the alignment of international travel with the domestic economy, which will be so important for the UK’s economic recovery.”

£26bn cash injection for UK economy up for grabs with a reopening of international travel this summer

£26bn cash injection for UK economy up for grabs with a reopening of international travel this summer

  • New report details massive opportunity for the UK economy through trade and tourism so long as current restrictions on air travel are eased this summer
  • Report makes clear the urgent need for the Global Travel Taskforce to recommend a safe and sustainable resumption of international travel on 17 May
  • It highlights the cost of a ‘lost summer’ of international travel – £55.7bn in lost trade and £3.0bn in tourism GDP if reopening delayed until September – putting more than half a million jobs at risk.
  • Being unable to re-open to the EU would cause the most damage, followed by the United States, with no air link to the US until September costing the UK £2.4bn (£23m per day) putting 51,600 jobs at risk
  • Vaccine rollout in the UK and abroad, ever-increasing testing capability and new health certification technology can allow international travel to resume in summer 2021 and avoid costing the UK £47.6bn in GDP this year (over £200m a day) removing the risk to more than a million jobs

A new report reveals the size of the opportunity for the UK economy by reopening the border with key markets including the US, by the summer.

Read the report here

The Government has established the Global Travel Taskforce to recommend to the Prime Minister ways in which international travel can reopen safely and at scale from 17 May. This new report details the catastrophic impact that only a limited reopening of travel from May, would have.

It reveals that the hit to UK GDP of delaying any restart until September would be £26.2bn, in addition to lost trade, encompassing imports and exports, of £55.7bn. Around 574,000 jobs would be at risk including 73,000 within UK tourism. The wider hit to the UK’s tourism sector would cost £3.0bn.

In contrast, enabling a safe and sustainable resumption of international travel from 17 May for the whole of the remainder of 2021 would generate a GDP injection of £47.6bn and help secure more than a million jobs otherwise under threat – worth some £200m a day to our economy. This report builds on earlier work that demonstrated that the loss of air connectivity to the UK’s largest trading partner (the US) cost the UK some £30m a day in 2020. Overall, an estimated 5,164 UK aviation and related jobs have been lost every month since February 2020, according to Unite the Union.

As the vaccine rollout accelerates both in the UK and abroad, and with widespread testing becoming ever further embedded, a phased easing of restrictions is required to help the UK’s economy recover. International travel can safely resume on 17 May, through a tiered system based on risk. The UK Government has the opportunity to set a framework to re-establish international travel, for others to follow.

The aviation industry’s focus remains on working with Ministers on such a framework for travel that is safe, robust and workable. It is critical that this can stand the test of time throughout the summer and beyond, ensuring that a stop/start approach is never seen again as the sector looks to rebuild confidence.

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said: “For many of us, aviation is associated with a holiday or much needed break. However, this new report demonstrates just how vital the UK’s air links are to our economic prosperity, be it for British exporters, the hospitality sector or companies with an international footprint. The data refutes the claim that keeping aviation shut down, or delaying restart beyond the summer, is a price worth paying – with each day planes are grounded costing tens of millions of pounds and putting thousands of jobs at risk. The priority now is clear; ensuring a durable framework for a risk-based approach to reopening air travel from 17 May”.

Sean Doyle, British Airways CEO, said: “The emotional and economic cost of not starting to re-open international travel on May 17 is clear. With more than 50% of the UK adult population vaccinated in a programme that has been the envy of the world the Government must now urgently provide a phased, risk-based framework for travel to re-start this summer that will save the economy and jobs, allow business to re-start and reunite friends and families.”

David Evans, Joint CEO at Collinson, said: “This summer, a hybrid of testing and vaccine verification must be used to provide a safe and sustainable model to reopen travel that removes or dramatically reduces restrictions and quarantines while protecting both individuals and our economy. We are in a very different position today than we were a year ago, with an accelerated vaccine roll-out taking place and advanced testing capabilities up and down the country. Testing alone is already playing a critical role in keeping aviation moving: Collinson has safely delivered over 200,000 tests in the past half year, and we know first-hand the power of testing and of science to keep travellers safe and to provide them with peace of mind.”

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, Gatwick Airport, said: “The aviation sector had been hit hard by the pandemic and we cannot afford to leave it behind as the rest of society opens up, otherwise UK plc will lack the vital infrastructure, supply chains and logistics operations it needs to recover quickly through trade and all the other economic activity that airports and airlines generate. 

“Public health is of course the absolute priority and – provided vaccine rollouts across Europe succeed and restrictions ease as we start the summer – a flexible risk-based approach to reopening international travel would not only help us reopen, rebuild and protect jobs, it would start to restore consumer confidence and allow people to see family or enjoy a well-deserved break”.

Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye, added: “Advances in testing technology, coupled with the country’s incredible vaccination progress means a safe and irreversible resumption of international travel from May 17th is within our sights. For over a year, travel restrictions have effectively severed the UK’s ties with its key trading partners, stunting the country’s economic growth. For example, resuming transatlantic travel would add £2.4bn to the national economy this summer alone and help protect over 50,000 jobs. If this Government is serious about delivering a Global Britain, the Travel Taskforce must seize this opportunity to put in place a risk-based framework that protects public health and rebuilds vital trade links to countries like the US.”

Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic said: “The free movement of people and goods by air is vital for competition, connectivity and supporting the UK’s economic recovery. This report presents evidence that the resumption of international travel, specifically between lower risk countries such as the UK and US – our largest trading partner accounting for 15% of all UK trade – must remain the objective. In 2019, Transatlantic connectivity underpinned trade worth $273bn. As an essential driver of global trade, FDI and our hospitality and tourism sectors, a thriving and competitive aviation market is more important than ever to the future success of Global Britain. 

“A phased easing of testing requirements and border restrictions, that follows the scientific evidence, will protect public health and ensure that skies can safely reopen from 17th May, safeguarding half a million UK jobs reliant on the sector.” 

Read the report here

Infographic summary here

UK airlines comment on new international travel legislation

Responding to new Government legislation covering international travel, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Nothing has changed with this legislation, the Government has been clear all along that it will report on 12 April its intent to restart international travel from 17 May, and airlines are busy working with Ministers through the Global Travel Taskforce to set out the criteria and framework that will enable this to happen safely. A tiered system, based on risk and adaptable to changing circumstances with the virus, means travel can resume this summer, and all our focus will remain on agreeing the structure that can make this a reality.”  

Background:

The Secretary of State has the power to review the need for the legislation from 12 April onwards to restart travel. It says he will do so on 12 April and must do so at least once every 35 days from them.

UK airlines comment on international travel speculation

Responding to ongoing speculation about the chances of international travel restarting this summer, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“It is too early to say what the state of Covid will be in Europe and globally in 10 weeks’ time. Our focus between now and then must be working with Ministers on a framework for travel that is robust and workable, and can stand the test of time as we enter the all-important summer period.

We have always said any reopening must be risk-based, but also led by the overriding assumption that as the vaccine rollout accelerates both here and abroad, a phased easing of restrictions is achievable. We know that universal, restriction-free travel is unlikely from 17 May but under a tiered system, based on risk, international travel can meaningfully restart and build up, with minimal restrictions in time.”

 

UK airlines welcome Government commitment to Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Responding to the formal launch today by the Government of a new competition backed by £15m of funding to support the development of sustainable aviation fuels, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Sustainable aviation fuels are proof today that low emission air travel is possible, and the “Green Fuels, Green Skies” competition is a welcome boost to help deliver the innovative plants that will produce sustainable aviation fuel at scale this decade, fuels which alongside exciting new hydrogen and electric technologies will power UK airlines for decades to come and help deliver the UK aviation industry commitment to net zero carbon. Put simply, without SAF we cannot achieve net zero and this funding support from

UK airlines respond to domestic Air Passenger Duty announcement

Responding to the announcement that the Government will shortly consult on measures to reform domestic Air Passenger Duty, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“This is really positive news that will help support regional connectivity, level up the UK, and provide a welcome measure of relief to domestic carriers facing an existential threat from the impacts of Covid. It will help to sustain current domestic connections – including into Heathrow, our national hub, as well as all the regions of the UK – which is essential to achieving economic growth and supporting the Government’s Global Britain agenda. We look forward to working further with the Hendy Review and Ministers and would urge as much speed as possible in the consultation process.”