BUSINESS NEWS


The AOA’s Karen Dee says ‘this summer must be a success for aviation if airports are to survive’


Airports chief warns ‘dire’ situation ‘deteriorating’


AOA calls for aviation recovery package, especially for UK regions. By Ian Taylor


UK airports are in a “dire” position, the outlook is “deteriorating” and there is “a real prospect” 2021 will be no better than a “disastrous 2020”, the Airport Operators Association (AOA) has warned. In an Airport Recovery Plan


published last week, the AOA said: “Even if the global vaccine rollout goes well, it could be 2025 before airports see 2019 levels of passengers again.” It described a full traffic recovery


by 2025 as “an ever more unlikely prospect”. The AOA warned “the damage to balance sheets will take years to


32 11 FEBRUARY 2021


repair” and said the recovery would be slower outside the southeast, noting: “Regions outside London and the southeast have seen the worst impacts from the decline in traffic, especially on long-haul routes, [and] are likely to see a much slower recovery.” The association also warned


pressure to offer discounts and incentives to airlines would disproportionately affect smaller airports and income would remain lower “due to continuing social distancing measures and economic difficulties” among consumers. It urged the government to


“significantly increase financial support to airports to ensure they stay open” and “set a pathway” to ease restrictions, noting support for airports to date “compares poorly to the UK’s competitors”. The report presented three


possible recovery scenarios, only the best of which – based on a successful vaccine rollout – would see traffic by 2025 overtake 2019’s level but with “international business and long-haul leisure traffic below 2019 levels”.


Continued on page 30 travelweekly.co.uk


BUSINESSNEWS


PICTURES: Shutterstock; Simply Photography


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32