It's time to go back to school

September is a time of new beginnings and this year a new start is needed more than ever. As children start a new school year, workers head to the office and MPS return to Westminster, we in the business travel industry need urgent action.

Many will have enjoyed a staycation and applauded themselves for helping the UK’S economy. This is to be celebrated, but two vital sectors – business and leisure travel – are being prevented from making valuable contributions to this economy.

For MPS keen to do their homework, business travel contributes £220billion to UK GDP every year and we employ tens of thousands of people across the supply chain. Business travel is essential to the aviation sector and enables lower fares for holiday makers.

This term, we are setting three tests that MPS must pass to keep this vital sector alive. Firstly, end the arrivals testing debacle.

The expense and Wild West nature of the process is a huge barrier for the corporate traveller.

Instead, work with the business travel community to do a proper trial of daily lateral flow tests on arriving travellers. If it’s good enough for Michael Gove, we’re willing to give it a go.

Secondly, abolish the traffic light system. Bring forward the final review and rid travellers of the confusion around green and amber countries.

With the UK’S effective vaccine roll-out, we should be making it easier for people to go about their daily lives. This involves travelling for work. Travel remains the only sector being governed by Covid regulations. We need to be opened up once more.

Finally, extend furlough for our sector.

While the current conditions remain, we can’t fling open our doors and operate effectively in a pre-pandemic fashion.

We want to trade, to travel, to facilitate global Britain. We urge the hand that is taking so much away from us to give back the furlough scheme in a targeted way.

At the BTA, our door is open for MPS who need a cramming session.