With the aviation sector being possibly the last part of the economy to recover from the pandemic, Ruth Cadbury MP has urged the Prime Minister to take urgent action to support aviation jobs and businesses especially in communities such as Hounslow so reliant on the sector.
In her virtual question in the House of Commons on Monday Ruth told the Prime Minister that it could take up to five years for aviation to reach pre-2020 levels and called for the Government to introduce much needed support for the sector.
Speaking in full afterwards Ruth Cadbury MP said,
‘‘Communities like Hounslow have been hit hard by the Coronavirus because of the decline in international aviation. Aviation sector representatives tell me that UK flying won’t return to 2019 levels for at least 5 years.
Heathrow airport and the wider supply chain provides thousands of jobs and supports many local businesses across West London. Even at the end of this year only a minority will have returned to full work, and many may never.
The Government needs to extend the furlough scheme and provide retraining and support for those businesses to enable transition into other sectors that will grow back quicker.
It’s vital that the Prime Minister and the Government work with local councils such as Hounslow on a recovery strategy, taking urgent action to support the sector and its workers now and for many months to come.
I was disappointed that the Prime Minister said that we would have to wait until April to find out what, if any, support Hounslow and other aviation communities will receive.’’