The UK’s aviation minister Robert Courts has said that a new Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme would “help airports reduce their costs” and would hand out grants “before the end of this financial year”.
The news comes after the government said it would temporarily close all travel corridors and reduce the number of exemptions to the entry rules.
The Airport Operators Association’s chief executive Karen Dee has said the sector needs urgent support.
“The closure of travel corridors is understandable from a public health perspective but this adds to the current near-complete shutdown of the UK’s airports, which are vital for our post-pandemic prosperity. This is making a devastating situation for UK airports and communities relying on the jobs and economic benefits that aviation brings, worse.
“The UK and devolved governments now need to set out as a matter of extreme urgency how they will support airports through this deepening crisis. Business rate support, announced last year and in England not yet even open to applications, is no longer sufficient to ensure airports can weather the difficult months ahead.
“Airports are currently keeping their infrastructure open to support vital and critical services, such as post, freight, emergency services, military and Coastguard flights, as well as to help keep the lights in the UK on through supporting flights to offshore oil, gas and wind operations.
“Airports are doing so while running on empty – there is only so long they can run on fumes before having to close temporarily to preserve their business for the future.”