UK transport minister discusses coronavirus support with airports, airlines

LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) - Britain's transport minister
Grant Shapps spoke to major airports and airlines on Wednesday
about how the government could support the industry from the
impact of coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman
said.

On Tuesday, airlines demanded urgent tax relief to avoid
multiple bankruptcies as coronavirus disruption continued its
spread across the global industry.

"The transport secretary had two calls with the airline
industry and airports respectively to better understand the
impact of coronavirus on their businesses and to discuss how the
government can support the industry," the spokesman said.

One call was with representatives of Britain's four main
airports and the other with "major airlines", he added.
(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Michael Holden)