Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP, Neale Hanvey, has called on the UK government to provide a comprehensive support package for the aviation sector following the recent closure of all travel corridors.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, supported by 80 parliamentarians, the local MP has acknowledged that the latest restrictions were a necessary measure to protect the public from the spread of new variants of COVID-19, but highlights that aviation needs urgent support to recover from the devastating economic impacts of the pandemic.
The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP has been a vocal advocate for the aviation sector throughout the pandemic, lobbying relevant ministers and calling for a clear pathway for the recovery of the sector. He is also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Future of Aviation.
Commenting, Neale Hanvey MP said:
“The closure of all travel corridors was clearly the right thing to do, but it does deal another massive blow to an aviation sector which has faced the pandemic without the same levels of support that has been given to other areas of the economy.
“The reality is that aviation has been hit really hard, and I’ve been supporting constituents who have lost their jobs as a result.
“With Edinburgh Airport on our doorstep, there’s obviously a lot of folk in the area who work in aviation. So, the pain felt by the aviation sector has a direct result on my constituents and our local economy.
“The UK government has no plan to help aviation bounce back once it’s safe to do so, and that risks losing jobs and skills from the sector.
"I’m calling on the UK government to support and protect these businesses, their supply chains, employees, and communities like ours that has borne the brunt of the near total collapse of passenger numbers.
“Our aviation sector is running on empty. The UK government must give it the strategic direction and financial support it so desperately needs.”
Cover image courtesy of Stephen McKay / Edinburgh Airport / CC BY-SA 2.0