Airport’s £8m lifeline grant to help things take off
MP HAILS GRANT WHICH WILL PROTECT JOBS AFTER COVID
AN ANNOUNCEMENT that East Midlands Airport is to get a multimillion-pound grant to help it recover after the pandemic has been welcomed by a Midlands MP.
Jane Hunt, MP for Loughborough, hailed the new funding of up to £8 million, which will help protect jobs and get the airport bouncing back after coronavirus.
It comes as the Government’s support scheme for airports opened late last month. The scheme reflects the aviation sector’s valuable contribution to the UK economy, and will help to ease pressure on airports hit by the pandemic.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that East Midlands Airport qualified for the grant as he invited applications.
The Airport and Ground Operators
Support Scheme, will help airports across England to cover losses on costs caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, including airfield operations, contracted services such as airfield and runway maintenance, and business rate bills.
Airports and ground handlers can apply to the scheme on the government website and, if successful, should receive their funding by the end of the financial year.
The financial support scheme is open for applications until February 21.
The investment will help support East Midlands Airport following the introduction of international travel restrictions designed to protect public health and prevent the spread of
Covid-19 as the Government continues to roll out its vaccination programme.
Mrs Hunt said: “I am thrilled that the airport will receive up to £8 million to help it protect jobs during these challenging times. I visited the airport last year and was able to tour the freight facilities that are rapidly expanding, but it was very clear that
the airport can’t rely on freight alone and the lack of holiday passengers had resulted in a large financial hit.
“EMA is a major employer locally. The airport also forms a central part of the East Midlands Freeport bid which has just been submitted, so it is vital that we continue to have this major asset on our doorstep.”