The UK government’s failure to support regional airports has left their future in doubt, Greater Manchester’s mayor said.
Andy Burnham said plans to tackle inequality and “level up” poorer parts of the country would be hampered as a result.
He echoed comments from industry group AOA, which issued a warning that tens of thousands of jobs in aviation were at risk and requested relief in business rates for Britain’s airports. The group also said the sector had not received the support it required.
“I think it’s hard to overstate the importance of Manchester Airport, not just to the economy of Greater Manchester but to the north of England as a whole. It’s the driver for everything, really,” Mr Burnham told AOA’s online annual conference.
The mayor, who has clashed repeatedly with Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the government’s financial Covid-19 package for Greater Manchester, said levelling up would not be possible without support for airports and aviation.
“If they [the government] are not doing what we need to level up, then I have to point that out – and actually when I’ve watched what’s happened to Manchester Airport this year, to be honest, I’ve been quite horrified,” he said.
On Sunday, Mr Burnham said about 65,000 jobs were at risk in and around Manchester Airport after the government introduced a second national lockdown, with most international travel banned.
“I think the north of England is being levelled down at the moment, and I think that is accentuated by the fact that there is no support package in place for airports,” he said.
Derek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports, which owns hubs in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton, said regional airports needed help.
Leading aviation industry figures are also reeling from the quarantine measures, under which people arriving in England must self-isolate for two weeks unless they have come from elsewhere in the UK or another country its deems safe. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, different rules apply.
The UK government hopes to have a “test and release” system in place when lockdown in England ends on December 2. It says this would enable the quarantine period of two weeks to be shortened.
Karen Smart, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said the government needed to bring in the test and release plan.
“Airports are critical to the government’s levelling up agenda and to the economy as a whole and government really do need to start recognising that, here and now.”
In a letter to Mr Johnson, the AOA said the current situation was unsustainable without greater support.
“Britain’s global connectivity is on the line if government is not willing to support the industry,” it said.
