Government Flybe review must develop a coherent regional transport strategy, urges Unite
Friday, 17 January 2020 13:05
Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, which represents 500
workers at airliner Flybe is urging the government to develop a
coherent regional transport strategy, which includes long-term
support for regional airports. The government announced this
week that it would launch a review into regional airlines this week
following the warning that airline Flybe was in financial
difficulties. However Unite believes that a long-term
solution is needed which protects all regional...Request free trial
Unite, the UK and Ireland’s
largest union, which represents 500 workers at airliner Flybe is
urging the government to develop a coherent regional transport
strategy, which includes long-term support for regional
airports.
The government announced this
week that it would launch a review into regional airlines this week
following the warning that airline Flybe was in financial
difficulties.
However Unite believes that a
long-term solution is needed which protects all regional airlines,
regional airports and the supply chain. Thousands of jobs are
potentially at risk if the government fails to provide assistance
and a long-term
strategy.
Unite national officer for
civil aviation Oliver Richardson said: “Regional
airlines and regional airports play a crucial role in ensuring that
people can travel for work and leisure. They are essential for the
health of regional economies and there needs to a long-term
coherent strategy to ensure they
thrive.
“There are thousands
of workers employed at Flybe, on other domestic routes, at regional
airports and in their supply chains, whose jobs may hang in the
balance, unless the government develops a long-term coherent
regional transport
strategy.
“The development of
any such strategy must fully include unions who are the authentic
voice of the
workforce.
“Unite has written to
both the government and Flybe to seek urgent meetings to
better understand the
deal secured this
week and
the long-term plans for Flybe and the regional airline
industry.
“Unite believes that
the criticism of the government’s proposals to assist Flybe by the
likes of Willie Walsh and Michael O’Leary is highly
ironic given the
fact that
under the
former’s stewardship British
Airways pulled out of providing a domestic service in the
UK and Ryanair operates no domestic
routes”
ENDS
Notes to
editors:
Unite
comment on Flybe
concerns
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