Uncertainty over travel caused by government, risks doing real damage to aviation jobs

Comments by UK government minister Lord Bethell that international travel was dangerous and not for this year, have prompted Prospect to warn that jobs are at risk in aviation because of these mixed messages from government.

Mike Clancy, Prospect General Secretary said:

“We have now had days of mixed messages from the government about overseas travel. The uncertainty it is causing risks doing real damage in sectors like aviation where thousands of jobs are on the line.

“The government set out the clear traffic light policy, and workers and employers have been getting on with meeting the demand it has generated.

“If the government believes the risks have changed it needs to be clear with the public and change the policy, rather than brief contradictory messages to the media.

“But if it does this it must provide proper sector specific job support, especially as the furlough scheme will soon begin to wind down.

“Anything less will trigger a wave of job losses in one of our most critical industries, with a loss of skills and aviation capacity that will take years to reverse.”