Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) is to loan £34m from the city region combined authority to help give it stability during the coronavirus crisis currently hitting the travel industry.
The funding was approved at a meeting of the combined authority on Friday, with the airport described as a "vital strategic infrastructure asset for the city region".
Announcing the funding for JLA, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “International connectivity is essential for the local economy and the roles of international gateways such as ports, airports and cruise terminals as economic hubs and drivers for local economies and tourism need to be maximised.
“That is why it is right that today we have agreed this loan facility to provide stability for the airport, its passengers and other users during the Covid-19 recovery period.”
Along with the wider aviation sector, the Covid-19 pandemic means that JLA has experienced a "material adverse effect" on its business, with passenger numbers plummeting and holiday firms and airlines reducing their services.
The airport supports around 6,000 local jobs, providing £250m per annum in economic impact, and was described as the authority as an "important facility" for residents.
