‘Piecemeal’ approach ‘is putting air jobs at risk’
JOBS and livelihoods are being put at risk by a ‘piecemeal’ approach to air bridges, a Scots airport boss has warned.
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports, has urged ministers to approve a ‘four nations approach’ to help the aviation industry.
AGS Airports owns and manages Aberdeen and Glasgow airports, as well as Southampton.
Mr Provan warned that if devolved nations do take a different approach to that announced by the Westminster government for England, it could ‘damage’ the aviation sector – and have ‘long-term implications’ on recovery. He said: ‘Anything other than a four nations approach to the easing of the quarantine restrictions is going to put further jobs and livelihoods at risk.
‘Having a piecemeal approach will compound the devastating impact the blanket quarantine measures have had on our aviation, tourism and hospitality sectors.’
Mr Provan added: ‘Adopting a different approach is going to do further damage to our aviation sector which has already been buffeted by widespread job losses, and it will have wider, long term implications on the ability of our economy to recover.’
He said that this was not about allowing people to go on holiday but about ‘safely re-establishing routes that drive trade and investment.’
Yesterday Miss Sturgeon said she was ‘absolutely’ looking at issues of the ‘economic impact’ and viability of airports when deciding her approach to air bridges.
The First Minister said: ‘we take account of all of these things,’ but
added that the public health crisis remains her top concern.
All of Scotland’s airports have witnessed a dramatic downturn in footfall and flights during the lockdown.
Last weekend marked the start of the summer holiday for most schools which would normally see a huge influx of sun seekers heading off abroad.
Glasgow and Edinburgh airports would normally welcome more than a hundred thousand passengers over the course of that weekend.
Instead Glasgow, which welcomed 130,000 passengers this time last year, was expected to see a footfall of around 2,000 people. Edinburgh, which had 140,000 passengers last year, forecast a slightly larger number of 4,000 passengers.
Even as flight restrictions lifted last week, many airports remained quiet. In terminals, shops such as WH Smith remained closed as did duty free and pubs and restaurants.
Popular destinations included Alicante and Mallorca, both in Spain.
The exodus came as the First Minister faced increasing pressure to commit to air bridges, or travel corridors, which make going to and from countries with low infection rates easier.