Glasgow Airport staff created a giant 'HELP' sign to call for the Scottish Government to safely reopen travel this summer.
Staff gathered at the airport to spell out the word with unused vehicles on what would normally be a busy airfield to raise awareness of the devastating impact the pandemic continues to have on the aviation industry.
Thousands of people employed across the industry, from travel agents to pilots and tour operators to cabin crew, are urging both the Scottish and UK Governments to capitalise on the vaccine rollout in order to safely reopen travel this summer.
Businesses are also calling for tailored financial support for the industry that they believe will play a key role in rebuilding the country’s economy in the weeks and months ahead.
Derek Provan, Chief Executive of AGS Airports Ltd, which owns and operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, said: “We have kept our airports open to support a number services including lifeline flights to the Scottish Islands, air ambulance operations and vital PPE and medical supply deliveries, while ensuring domestic and international connectivity could continue for key workers in crucial sectors like oil and gas.
“Our airports have accrued losses of over £3 million per month since March last year in order to remain open and operational, but more importantly a third of the people employed across our airports have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
“With no clear recovery plan on the horizon and a lack any significant and meaningful support from government, the thousands of people currently working within our industry face an uncertain future.
“Government must act now to save an industry that has delivered so much for our country and if provided with the correct support will play a key role in rebuilding our economy.”
Data from IATA shows that, of the 1.6 million jobs within UK aviation, travel and tourism pre-pandemic, 860,000 have either already disappeared or are sustained only by government furlough.
