UK airports warn 20,000 jobs at risk as travel slump continues

LONDON, June 24 (Reuters) - Up to 20,000 jobs could go at
Britain's airports, an industry group warned, calling on the
government to do more to help an aviation industry that was shut
down by the COVID pandemic and is now struggling to restart due
to quarantine rules.

The Airport Operators Association (AOA), which represents
more than 50 airports, said future passenger numbers at UK
airports were expected to be significantly lower, and analysis
of its members suggested up to 20,000 jobs were at risk.

The government should scrap its quarantine regime, provide
relief from business rates, extend a job retention scheme,
directly fund the sector regulator and suspend air passenger
taxes to help save jobs, the AOA said.

"These jobs figures clearly show that a key component of the
UK’s infrastructure is on its knees, with no relief to the
current crisis expected," said AOA chief executive Karen Dee.

"Government needs to recognise the immense crisis facing the
country’s airport communities and take action to support UK
aviation and protect livelihoods."

UK-based airlines British Airways, Virgin Atlantic
and easyJet have already announced close to 20,000 job
losses between them. The country's biggest airport Heathrow has
also started a voluntary redundancy scheme.

Britain has a 14-day quarantine policy in place for arrivals
into the country from abroad, which airlines, airports and the
hospitality sector have said is deterring international travel
at a time when they had been hoping for it to recover.

The rule is due to be reviewed on June 29, three weeks after
it was introduced and could be replaced by "air bridges", which
would allow restriction-free travel between countries with low
infection rates.
(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Mark Potter)