AirTanker joins Airlines UK

AirTanker, the British airline renowned for its work with the RAF Voyager aircraft & specialising in aerial refuelling, is the latest carrier to join Airlines UK, the industry association for UK-registered carriers.

Since signing a 27-year contract with the MoD in 2008, AirTanker’s primary role has been to ensure the safe and effective operation of the RAF’s fleet of A330 MRTT Voyager aircraft, with responsibilities ranging from aircraft delivery and fleet management to crew training and a full maintenance capability.

As well as supporting the Voyager military operation, AirTanker is a civil airline and operates the South Atlantic Air Bridge, which provides a vital scheduled connection between the UK and the Falkland Islands. AirTanker has also continued to expand its commercial leasing business, operating a number of Airbus A330-200 aircraft on ad-hoc, damp and wet lease contracts on behalf of other carriers in the UK and Europe.

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: “We’re delighted to welcome such an interesting and truly diverse airline into the Airlines UK membership. Air Tanker’s experience with military operations will bring an important perspective to our offering, as well as their vital work on connectivity including with the South Atlantic Air Bridge. We’re looking forward to working with them at this critical time for the sector”.

Tony Carder, AirTanker’s Director of Civil Business said: “We are very pleased to be the latest UK airline to join the impressive and growing list of Airlines UK members.  It is important for us to be a member of such a highly regarded and well respected industry body and we look forward to working with the organisation at this very challenging time for the UK airline industry”.

Airlines welcome creation of Jet Zero Council to achieve net zero aviation by 2050

Responding to the announcement by the Transport Secretary of the creation of a Jet Zero Council to work on achieving net zero emissions for aviation by 2050, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“It’s an excellent initiative and the Transport Secretary should be applauded for demonstrating such a willingness to work with the aviation industry to achieve our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. There are huge opportunities for the UK to be a world-leader in sustainable aviation fuels production and electric aviation, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and major export opportunities in the process. It’s a win-win for all of our regions who will stand to gain from this and for the UK’s decarbonisation efforts, and we’re looking forward to taking part.”   

UK airlines respond to publication of health guidance for aviation

Responding to the publication of Government health guidance on air travel, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Having worked in partnership with Government on their development, UK airlines welcome the introduction of these guidelines. They demonstrate how airlines can apply targeted and multi-layered measures to ensure air travel is safe for customers and crew.

“The guidelines pave the way for the introduction of air bridges, and there is no reason we shouldn’t be getting clarity from Government on when and how these will be established over the coming days.”

Loganair & FedEx join Airlines UK

Loganair, the Scottish regional airline and FedEx Express, the airline division of the global delivery services company, have become the latest carriers to join Airlines UK, the industry association for UK-registered carriers.

Loganair is the UK’s largest regional airline, having grown their operations from one aircraft in 1962 to now flying to over 40 destinations across Europe, Scandinavia and the British Isles. Based at Glasgow Airport, with hubs in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverness and Newcastle, Loganair plays a vital role in connecting the regions, especially in Scotland. Routes include Derry to London, Inverness to Manchester and even Glasgow to Barra in the Outer Hebrides – flying into the world’s only scheduled beach runway. Loganair will join as a member from 1 July.

FedEx Express are to join Airlines UK immediately as an international member, representing a key addition as the world’s largest all cargo airline. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee but with a UK hub, FedEx Express first opened its International Gateway at Stansted over 30 years ago in 1985 with just four employees. Since that time, the airline has significantly grown its UK operations and consistently gone on to win awards as one of the UK’s top employers.

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: “We’re delighted to welcome two such well-established and diverse airlines into the Airlines UK membership. This is an unprecedented time for the sector as we battle the impacts of Covid-19 and seek to work collaboratively with others to protect the future of our industry, and having as strong an airline offering as possible will better enable us to do that. We’re looking forward to working with them at this critical time.”

Jonathan Hinkles, CEO of Loganair, said: “It’s a privilege to join Airlines UK. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen first-hand the excellent work that Airlines UK does to stand up for our industry, ensuring that our collective voice is heard at every level of Government and beyond.”

Trevor Hoyle, SVP of Europe Ground Operations for FedEx Express, said: “FedEx is pleased to further strengthen its place in UK aviation by joining the ranks with members of Airlines UK. As the global aviation sector faces unparalleled challenges in the wake of COVID-19, it is critical that we continue our long history of collaboration with industry peers around the world to flex operations to help sustain the global economy. And, with the country facing a new horizon in 2021, we are committed to playing a constructive role in the debate over how best to ensure an evolving global Britain has the connectivity needed for national success and increased prosperity.”

Airlines UK statement on quarantine announcement

Responding to today’s quarantine announcement, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“We need to see much more clarity on air bridges over the coming days. The key thing is that they are established as soon as possible alongside the FCO travel advice being changed, and ideally before the review on 29 June. Airlines can’t start up operations overnight and any announcement isn’t going to trigger bookings and flights for several weeks. If Government leave it too late we run the risk of the summer season being over and losing out to other countries who are starting to open up their borders now.”

UK airlines welcome Job Retention Scheme extension but more action required to protect world-leading aviation sector

Responding to the announcement by the Chancellor that the Job Retention Scheme will be extended until the end of October, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“This is a welcome announcement and we are pleased that from August staff will be allowed to come back to work part-time. With aviation’s recovery due to be prolonged and uncertain owing to ongoing travel restrictions, including the 14-day quarantine period proposed by the Government, more action is needed to protect our world leading aviation sector. Our focus remains on working with Government on the measures required to allow for an effective re-start and recovery of our industry.”

Aviation CEO letter to the Prime Minister about proposed quarantine measures

Airline and airport CEOs have written to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressing their concern about the proposed quarantine for arriving passengers into the UK.

The letter is attached below.

UK airlines respond to 14-day quarantine for arriving passengers announcement

Responding to the announcement due to be made this evening by the Prime Minister of a 14-day quarantine period for passengers arriving into the UK, Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Public health must of course be the priority and we respect the Sage advice. We all – including Government – need to adapt to the new normal but closing off air travel in this way is not the way to achieve this. Ministers are effectively telling people they can no longer travel for the foreseeable future and airlines will respond to that by grounding their operations – and that is why they require urgent additional Government support to get through this growing crisis.”

Background:

We now need to see a package of cross-industry measures announced including an urgent decision on extending the Job Retention Scheme to October, and holidays on the paying of Air Passenger Duty and charges including ATC and CAA.

“A proposal that would effectively kill international travel to and from UK” – UK airlines respond to speculation around 14-day quarantine for passengers arriving at UK airports

Responding to speculation that passengers arriving at UK airports will be compelled to enter a 14-day quarantine period as part of Government Covid-19 measures, Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“This proposal would effectively kill international travel to and from the UK and cause immeasurable damage to the aviation industry and wider UK economy. Nobody is going to go on holiday if they’re not able to resume normal life for 14 days, and business travel would be severely restricted. It will also make it all but impossible for aviation to resume any time soon, thereby setting back the UK’s economic recovery still further.”

Airlines welcome Government decision on deferring Air Navigation charges, but further longer-term measures needed to help carriers through unprecedented downturn

Responding to the decision by the Department for Transport to join countries across Europe in deferring the payment of Air Navigation charges for February to May 2020, for a period of 14 months, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry association representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“This is welcome news and we thank the Government for voting in favour for the proposals. Whilst it will help with short-term liquidity, it only refers to ATC charges for February to May, a period in which global aviation has virtually ground to a halt and charges for airlines would’ve been substantially reduced anyway. Further measures, including extending this deferral or ideally waiving ATC charges for the whole year, and doing likewise with other costs like CAA charges, will also be needed to help get airlines through this unprecedented downturn.”