UK Pilot Association Calls for Government Support After Minister Casts Doubt on Holiday Season

By Anthony O. Goriainoff

The British Airline Pilots Association said Wednesday that it has called on the U.K. government to support the aviation industry after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said people shouldn't book holidays.

The association said the U.K.'s recent lockdown and actions on borders, quarantine and testing meant the aviation industry is essentially being shut down, and said it must receive support immediately.

"People shouldn't be booking holidays right now--not domestically or internationally," Mr. Shapps told BBC Radio 4's Today program.

Balpa said that, while it is understandable for the government to make difficult decisions in the interest of public health, if the effect of government action is to shut down the aviation sector then it stands to reason that it must compensate for lost business.

"The U.K. aviation sector cannot survive another summer with hardly any flying... Airlines are drowning, but rather than throwing us a life raft, the Transport Secretary has just thrown a bucket of cold water at us," Balpa General Secretary Brian Strutton said.

London-listed airline shares at 1728 GMT were down with International Consolidated Airlines Group SA falling 2.7% to 149.70 pence, easyJet PLC down 3.5% at 760.20 pence, Ryanair slipping 1.4% at EUR15.00 and Wizz Air Holdings PLC trading 0.9% lower at 4,690 pence.

Write to Anthony O. Goriainoff at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 10, 2021 11:48 ET (16:48 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.