Continued from page 48


Tim Alderslade described the government’s pledge last month of £180 million to stimulate production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) as “good seed money”. But he said: “It won’t get us to where we need to be. A SAF plant costs £500 million and we want two or three by 2025. “To get beyond 10% SAF


[use] in 2030 we need funding of hydrogen [fuel] and electric aircraft. It’s going to be difficult.” Dr Rannia Leontaridi, director


for aviation at the Department for Transport, told the conference: “£180 million may not be a significant amount but it’s a sign of commitment.” Aviation and maritime minister


Robert Courts insisted: “We support building a world-leading SAF industry. Our approach focuses on the rapid development of technology while maintaining the benefits of air travel.” Iata director general Willie


Walsh agreed: “The UK is probably ahead of the pack on SAF. [But] we need to de-risk investment in SAF. The best thing the government could do is work with the industry to scale production of SAF.” Alderslade acknowledged:


“We’re in a much better place. We have a plan for getting to net zero by 2050. At Cop26 we weren’t the pariahs we used to be. We could walk down the corridor without being booed. But there is no guarantee we can do this.” He said action “between now


and 2030 will be really significant. If we can’t get SAF working and can’t modernise airspace, we won’t convince people [we can be net zero by 2050]. To an extent we’re losing the PR war, but the point is other industries will decarbonise quicker than aviation and aviation emissions will continue to rise.”


Brexit blamed for job cuts for UK’s seasonal workers


Brexit restrictions could lead to a skills shortage in the outbound travel sector, a leading hospitality employer in France has claimed. In a webinar held by the UK


Trade & Business Commission, concern was raised about the government’s ability to agree a youth mobility visa with EU partners, enabling young people to develop the skills and experience needed for the industry in future years. European Pubs Limited, which


owns and operates bars, restaurants and hotels in French resorts, previously hired 95% of its employees from the UK for summer and winter seasons. However, this figure dropped substantially post-Brexit as it became more costly and time-consuming


Avoriaz, France


talk about labour shortages, they usually think about empty shelves in the UK, but the outbound tourist industry has been severely impacted by these new barriers to hiring UK workers in European resorts, and this could lead to less choice and higher costs for UK holidaymakers. “Not only will this dent our GDP,


to give young people from the UK opportunities they previously enjoyed. Travel industry leaders told the


commission an increase in lengthy admin to employ UK workers to work seasons in the EU had resulted in job cuts for mostly young people. The increased costs associated


with visas and work permits were also said to be putting pressure on holiday prices, potentially restricting the recovery of the sector from Covid. Charles Owen, managing director


of European Pubs Limited and director of Seasonal Business in Travel (SBiT), said: “When people


but it severely reduces opportunities for young people, for employment, experience and skills training. The government must make changes to the EU-UK trade deal to address this.” Industry surveys indicate the


number of UK workers hired to work in France has fallen by about 75% since January, compared with 2018-19. It has dropped from about 8,000 workers a season to just 2,000, with many posts now being filled by EU workers. In Austria, surveys suggest the fall is as high as 95%. Data site Statista recorded a


marked increase in operating costs for seasonal holiday providers after the vote to leave the EU.


‘Tourism was UK’s fastest growing sector in October’


Phil Davies


Tourism and recreation was the fastest-growing sector in the UK in October for the second month in a row, according to the latest Lloyds Bank UK Recovery Tracker. The sector was boosted by the


relaxation in international travel rules and more tourists visiting the UK. It achieved an output reading of


70. A reading above 50 signals output is rising, while a reading below 50 indicates contraction, according to the bank’s monthly analysis. Meanwhile, the transport sector


(56.4) benefited from an increase in domestic and international travel.


46 25 NOVEMBER 2021 The number of UK sectors


reporting output growth hit a three-month high in October, as businesses experienced intense pressure to raise prices, the study revealed. All 14 sectors monitored by the


tracker increased their prices in October, with 11 sectors increasing what they charged customers by a greater extent than in September. Twelve out of 14 sectors reported


output growth in October, up from 10 in September, and the highest number since July. Ten out of 14 sectors posted


a faster month-on-month rate of expansion, up from nine in


September, with consumer-facing services businesses experiencing the sharpest rise in activity. The tracker’s tourism and


recreation sector spans pubs, hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities.


travelweekly.co.uk Brighton


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Linda George


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Michaelasbest


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