More than 4,600 pilots co-signed a letter to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for essential action to boost the recovery of the UK aviation sector following «the damaging industry shutdown» over the past two years.
The statement was supported by Henry Smith MP, chairman of the APPG for the Future of Aviation, and following the Prime Minister’s confirmation that testing requirements for fully vaccinated passengers will be removed, BALPA-allied pilots are calling for an Aviation Recovery Plan and for the Government to acknowledge that border restrictions do not stop the spread of Covid.
This recovery plan must include a return to the conditions for travel that were in place before Covid, as there remains a huge confidence barrier to international travel and border controls are not effective in preventing transmission.
BALPA Secretary-General Martin Chalk said, «Sajid Javid – Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – and the Government must now recognize what the World Health Organization already knows: travel restrictions do kill travel confidence, but they do not stop the spread of disease. It is important that the Government now confirms a permanent end to travel restrictions.»
«Public confidence in travel is low, and we cannot repeat the regular and rapid change of rules, confusing and scaring the public away from travel,» he added.
Chalk continued, «Our world-class global aviation sector can no longer survive without a clear way out of this crisis. This must include the release of an Aviation Recovery Plan to drive our recovery. As pilots, we know that our aviation sector is more than just our airlines and airports, it is our gateway to a global Britain and is a core component of our national economy. We urge the Government to use our experience and listen to the voices of the industry in shaping the supportive environment for our collective future.»
«Failing to support British aviation would be unconscionable and would hold back the long-term national recovery before it has even begun. The time to act is now,» he concluded.
Here is the text of the letter sent to PM Johnson, signed by 4613 pilots:
«Dear Prime Minister
As British pilots, we are again writing to you to urge you to introduce a comprehensive support package including winter resilience measures for the aviation sector that is essential to protect against further job losses and damage to our national economy.
Despite the welcome progress being made on the Government’s Covid vaccination and booster programs, our aviation industry remains in a prolonged period of crisis and suppressed demand. The need for action is both urgent and essential.
The impacts of the pandemic and measures taken to protect public health have effectively shut down UK aviation for nearly two years, resulting in thousands of pilots either losing their careers or being subject to the uncertainty of enforced part-time or unpaid leave. It is now clear the ending of furlough in aviation was premature. These people whose jobs are at risk are the same people who, in the face of this terrible virus, repatriated British citizens and continue to ensure important cargo makes it to the UK to protect the NHS and save lives.
Whilst we do not dispute the need for public health measures, it is clear that travel restrictions do not prevent the spread of disease, and it is beyond doubt that our sector faces deep challenges this Winter and beyond. Our world-class aviation sector cannot survive any longer without a clear way out of this crisis. This must include the publication of a recovery plan, which although promised by Ministers last year is yet to materialize. This plan must include bespoke financial support for all parts of the aviation family and the removal of all of the current restrictions on travel.
As pilots, we know that our aviation industry is more than simply our airlines and airports, it is our gateway to a Global Britain and is a key component of our national economy. As such, a failure to support our industry now will have devastating consequences for our long-term recovery from the pandemic.
To not support UK aviation would be unconscionable and will slam the brakes on the national recovery before it has even begun. The need for deliberation on this has long passed, the time for action is now. »
