UK to discuss support for aviation industry - minister

LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - Britain's government will
discuss later on Monday how to help its aviation industry after
major airlines including Virgin Atlantic and easyJet said the
state would need to step in to prevent it collapsing over
coronavirus.

Transport minister Grant Shapps said the government
understood it was dealing with a crisis like never before.

"We know that aviation of course is at the forefront in many
ways because the first thing that stops is travel
internationally," he told Sky News.

"We want to make sure that companies ... who are in a good
state are able to continue. I'll be discussing them with the
chancellor and the prime minister later today and those
discussions with the sector are ongoing."
(Reporting by Kate Holton and Michael Holden; editing by Sarah
Young)