Any bailout for airlines crippled by the coronavirus crisis should be linked to plans to tackle climate change, green campaigners claimed tonight.
Thousands of workers face the axe across a host of carriers, with planes grounded and firms burning through billions of pounds after passenger numbers dived.
Virgin Atlantic became the latest airline to announce redundancies today, revealing plans to axe more than 3,000 workers and pull out of Gatwick.
British Airways last week announced it planned to make 12,000 staff redundant.
But critics of the fuel-guzzling industry have hailed the cut in emissions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic as aircraft stand idle at airports around the world.
Ministers have come under mounting pressure to throw the industry a lifeline.
But law firm Leigh Day, acting for environmental charity Possible, wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak claiming bailouts without conditions attached would breach legal obligations on climate change.
Possible's Alethea Warrington said: “We need to build a low-carbon transport system that works for everyone, not just for a small minority of wealthy frequent flyers and the airline bosses cashing in on the damage flying does to our climate.
“Recovery from Covid-19 will need huge public investment, which must go to building a better future for everyone, not propping up polluters.”
Greenpeace's Fiona Nicholls said: “Using public money to make environmental problems bigger instead of investing in the solutions would be the definition of false economy.
“Public money should be used for public benefit, and any bailouts need strict conditions attached to make sure that happens.”
Asked about help for the aviation industry, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said: "We continue to work closely with the sector and are willing to consider the situation of individual firms once all other Government schemes and commercial options have been explored, including raising capital from existing investors."
