Desperate airline chiefs urge Boris Johnson to give them green light for take off within weeks

AIRLINE bosses are warning they need the green light for take-off within weeks to kick-start an economic boom. Eight sector chiefs have written to PM Boris Johnson outlining their case. They warned: “There can be no economic recovery without aviation and we are confident we have the tools to enable a safe and meaningful restart […]

AIRLINE bosses are warning they need the green light for take-off within weeks to kick-start an economic boom.

Eight sector chiefs have written to PM Boris Johnson outlining their case.

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AFP

Airline bosses have written to Boris Johnson urging him to give them the green light for take-off to kick-start the industry[/caption]

They warned: “There can be no economic recovery without aviation and we are confident we have the tools to enable a safe and meaningful restart to air travel in May.”

The reality-check letter comes ahead of the Global Travel Taskforce publishing its report around April 12.

The letter was signed by bosses of British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, Loganair, Jet2, Virgin Atlantic, TUI and trade body Airlines UK.

International travel will not be allowed until May 17 at the earliest but the public are expected to be given advance warning whether it will resume then.

The PM will introduce a risk-based “traffic light” system.

It will mean no isolation for passengers in the green category although tests pre-departure and on arrival will be needed.

Those returning from amber and red countries will have to enter quarantine or self-isolation.

The resumption of air travel will boost economic recovery.

The UK lost £11billion in GDP because of the frozen US-UK air links by the end of last year.

PA

International travel will not be allowed until May 17 at the earliest but the public are expected to be given advance warning whether it will resume then[/caption]

AFP

Lockdown has meant that the UK lost £24.7billion from inbound tourism spending[/caption]

A lack of visitors to the country meant a £24.7billion loss from inbound tourism spending.

Tim Alderslade, Airlines UK chief executive, said: “We strongly believe holidaymakers, business travellers and British companies reliant on air links should be able to take to the skies again from May 17.”

The Government will tomorrow provide more details on their reviews into international travel, domestic Covid certificates, spectators at pilot events and social distancing.