Airport boss urges Stormont action over air corridors
BELFAST International Airport has called on the Executive to announce a policy on air bridges after Westminster guidance omitted the devolved nations.
The UK’S Department for Transport last week announced which countries will benefit from so-called travel corridors, meaning people can fly back from them without having to quarantine for two weeks.
More than 70 countries and territories including Spain, France and Italy are on the list. Others that are not specified include Portugal, United States and Sweden.
But the Department for Transport has said it’s up to the devolved regions to set their own policy.
Graham Keddie, Belfast International’s chief executive, said action was needed urgently as the airport was losing up to £70,000 every day.
“The decision by the UK Government to omit Northern Ireland and other UK regions from its air bridges announcement was deeply disappointing and frustrating,” he said.
“Unfortunately, this has been further compounded by the silence from the Executive.
“The simple truth is that Northern Ireland’s omission leaves hundreds of jobs at risk at a time when the travel and tourism industry needs to see leadership and support from government.
“This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency in order to save jobs and save our connectivity.”
He said Northern Ireland was now missing out on opportunities for inbound tourism, while people also missed out on the chance to go away on holidays.
“Without an announcement it’s just going to get worse and it’s destroying our summer,” he added.
“By announcing the quarantine in the first place, the British Government drove a stake in the heart of tourism.
“But now the Northern Ireland administration wants to screw on the coffin lid even tighter.”
He said carriers including Ryanair and easyjet had resumed operations from the airport, with Jet2.com to follow this month.
Some of the airport’s restaurants are to reopen for the first time since lockdown today.
But Mr Keddie said the jobs of ground handlers, caterers and others depended on passengers returning to Aldergrove.
Stormont’s Department of Health said a decision is likely to be made on air bridges shortly. “The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 came into operation on June 8,” it said.
“Amendments to the regulations are currently being considered and will be for the Executive to agree.
“The Health Minister expects a decision to be made in the coming days.”
Belfast International Airport announced a programme of voluntary redundancies due to the impact of coronavirus on air travel.
Around 280 jobs are also at risk at the ground handler Swissport.
At the end of May Mr Keddie said the airport expected to lose up to 45 employees out of a total workforce of 195.
He blamed the “devastating impact” of the pandemic.