Henry Smith MP has organised a cross-party group of parliamentarians calling for greater support for the aviation, travel and tourism industries following the reintroduction of restrictions on international travel.
As Crawley MP and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Future of Aviation, Henry secured the support of more than 30 members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords for this letter to the Prime Minister.
The parliamentarians highlight that a failure to protect the UK’s aviation, travel and tourism sectors risks leaving these vital industries a shadow of their former selves and will set back our national recovery.
The letter also calls for the Government to get control of testing, ensuring that their costs are made free or at least capped, set out how and when travel restrictions will be lifted and to bring forward a package of financial support to protect businesses, jobs and the communities who depend on aviation.
Henry said;
“Our aviation, travel and tourism sectors have been battered throughout the pandemic and the reintroduction of restrictions came just as these businesses were beginning their long road to recovery.
“That these restrictions have been brought in with no additional or new financial support at all is simply unacceptable and the Government must take action now to support aviation, travel and tourism businesses and their employees who face another lost season.
“It is also essential that the Government tackle the sky-high cost of testing, making travel testing free or at least capped, and remove all rogue providers who are exploiting international travellers.
“Without further financial support, we run the very real risk that our aviation and travel industries will be left a shadow of their former selves with consequences that will be felt across the whole of the UK.
“I established the Future of Aviation APPG last year to stand up for this sector in Parliament and this will be the case we continue to make to ensure a safe and successful return to international travel.”
