, Conservative MP for Crawley, has established and
Chairs the Future of Aviation Group, a cross-party coalition of
MPs supporting the sector and urging the Government to take
further action to assist this world-class industry.
Mr Smith said: “While Government deserves credit for stepping in
and furloughing around 44,000 airline employees, it’s clear that
the aviation sector needs further support for its employees.
“With Gatwick Airport in our borough boundary I’ve been clear
that aviation’s recovery is not only about flights and trade, but
what this vital sector means to hard-working families and whose
employees have, in many cases, given significant periods of their
lives to their careers.
“For their security we’re calling for a sector-specific extension
of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
“I’m asking the Transport Secretary and his Cabinet colleagues to
support the Future of Aviation Group’s Aviation Recovery Plan,
which has protecting jobs and supporting businesses at its
heart.”
The points included in the plan are;
1: Introduce COVID-19
testing
2: Introduce regional travel
corridors
3: An employment support package to March
2021
4: Support the green
recovery
5: Take action on business
rates
6: Temporary suspension of Air Passenger
Duty
7: Support for UK travel inbound
tourism
8: Absorption of CAA/NATS charges for
2020-21
9: Airspace modernisation
10: Bring forward public procurement and
accelerate public investment
continued: “It’s estimated that it could take a number
of years to get international travel figures up to 2019 levels.
We’ve heard the warnings, and it is time for action.
“The scale of the challenges encountered by the aviation, travel
and tourism sectors would have been unimaginable only six months
ago.
“Through the adoption of these and other policy recommendations
being made by the Future of Aviation Group, the Government can
reduce the scale of disruption of COVID-19 on this important
industry for Crawley and UK-wide.”
The Future of Aviation Group’s Aviation Recovery Plan can be read
here.
