BALPA General secretary Brian Strutton took to the forum and highlighted the association's role, while pandemic knocked the doors ! He said , they are still waiting for UK Government's Help .
A year ago, as the Covid crisis began to grip the world, BALPA recognised the severity of the situation and called for urgent action to help protect aviation. A year on, we are still in the grip of that crisis and as yet, significant help for UK aviation has yet to arrive from the Government.
UK government's promise of tailor made financial support package was a dissapointment while roadmap to recovery could not guide Aviation industry
BALPA highlighted Government’s Global Travel Taskforce , which became counterproductive due to a conservative report , that created chaos among the travelling mass and confusion in air travel industry.
Brian said ,
That’s why BALPA continues to beat the drum, lobbying for support and calling for direct action to provide UK aviation with the support it needs and deserves.
The state of aviation in UK has deteriorated heavily , such is the condition that, once busiest Heathrow is asking UK-CAA for increase of Airport transaction fees . Under such circumstaces , what will be the fate of competitiveness , when UK wakes up to the Global Aviation ?
Now as the world looks towards better times, our Government must back UK aviation and ensure we are able to compete when the world opens up again. We need to see the Government deploy financial help or UK aviation will sink as global competitors look on.
BALPA calls for the clarity , that will help both passengers taking air travel and Aviation industry , currently under going it's worst phase in the history.
BALPA is calling for concrete opening dates for overseas travel and for a solid, easy to understand list of countries that are safe to travel to. The public, who have been trapped in lockdowns and restrictions are eager to resume travel and to be reunited with loved ones around the globe, but they need confidence, they need certainty.
Brian further adds , " We also need urgent financial support for this vital industry which has been shut down by the Government and which is now running on empty. We have called time and again for help and we need our call to be answered."
BALPA wish to see UK being there at the Top of the World aviation , and time is now , to take targetted steps to bring UK aviation back . Brian says,
It would be a shame for UK aviation to flounder now, when there are positive signs that there is a way out of this crisis. So once again we are highlighting the seriousness of the situation and demanding assistance that will see aviation through this crisis and help UK aviation come back strongly to regain its place as a world leading industry.
