A
new report on the importance of domestic and international travel to
the economic prospects of UK businesses and the wider economy reveals that the
majority of UK business leaders would return to the skies if quarantine
measures were eased.
In the
survey of 515 UK business leaders commissioned for London City Airport, 88 per cent of leaders of businesses with more
than 250 employees believed air travel is important to the future success of
their business and nearly half (48 per cent) thought that the UK government’s
travel and quarantine restrictions were the single biggest barrier to business
air travel.
Robert
Sinclair, the airport’s chief executive, said: “The UK aviation industry
is the third largest in the world and a global success story. But it is
not just an industry itself, it also acts as an enabler of other industries
such as trade, tourism, hospitality, imports, exports and conferences. We
know the demand for air travel is there, but restrictive quarantine measures
are currently holding business leaders back from flying, and the UK economy
from beginning its recovery.”
The report
also revealed that domestic aviation in the UK contributes a £15 billion boost
to GDP, including £4 billion in Scotland. A number of industry leaders have responded
to the findings.
Gavin
Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North and SNP transport spokesperson, said: “The
report is confirmation, if any were needed, of the huge economic benefit of
regional connectivity regional airports to Scotland. The vital contribution of
airports like Glasgow in my Paisley and Renfrewshire North constituency cannot
be understated.”
Newlands added: “Since
the start of the pandemic I have called on the UK government to make good on
their promise and support the aviation industry to protect thousands of jobs and
time is fast running out for a credible package of support to be delivered.”
Richard
Burge, chief executive of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
said: “Aviation isn’t just vital to London’s recovery alone. Whether it’s
through travel and trade into London and then onward in the UK, or arrivals and
departures in other UK cities and regions, London-based aviation is intrinsic
to our national and regional economies, and to a great extent the economy of
much of the world.”
Tom
Thackray, director of infrastructure and energy at the CBI added: “Aviation is
fundamental to business growth across the UK and underpins our international
trading performance. To get passengers flying again safely, it is essential
that industry and government work together to tackle major barriers, including
enabling the introduction of testing as an alternative to quarantine”.