Britain still working on airlines support package -union boss

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - Britain is still working to
develop a package of government support for its airlines, with
the most likely outcome a range of measures to suit the
carriers' different needs, the head of the country's pilots
union BALPA said on Monday.

Finance minister Rishi Sunak said last Tuesday that he would
hold discussions over support packages for airlines and airports
but there has been no announcement on the outcome so far.

UK airlines such as easyJet, IAG-owned British
Airways and Virgin Atlantic have started to ground hundreds of
planes, and travel restrictions mean they have no revenues
coming in, putting thousands of jobs and the future of the
industry at risk.

BALPA pilot union chief Brian Strutton told BBC radio on
Monday that discussions were ongoing but it was "very, very
complicated".

"The chancellor and the secretary of state for transport are
still discussing the possibly of a rescue package for airlines
and ministers have spoken to me and the other transport unions,"
he said.

"There are different airline ownership and control
structures, different needs of different airlines," he added.

"(The government support) is likely to be different options
and a package, a suite of different things that they may be able
to provide, a combination of direct investment, loans and
guarantees to suit the different airlines."

A report in the Financial Times on Saturday said that the
British government was planning to buy equity stakes in airlines
and other companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

IAG has in the past rejected the idea of government support,
and unlike easyJet and Virgin has not asked for it, but BALPA's
Strutton said he thought they would be at the "front of the
queue".
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Kate Holton)