'Badly hit ' airports to get support as travel ban kicks in

Birmingham Airport are set to benefit from a financial support scheme for airports in England in a move announced today.

The scheme is due to open this month, the government says, as the aviation sector faces new Covid travel curbs.

The move was a response to the closure of all UK air corridors from Monday said aviation minister Robert Courts.

Full details around the scheme and yet to be released. However, the aviation minister has said that the Government will aim to provide grants before the end of the current financial year.

Industry groups had warned there was only so long airports could "run on fumes", following the announcement of the new quarantine rules.

Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “Given the spread in new variants of Covid-19, it 's understandable that the Government has taken steps to close global air corridors; however, this is yet another blow for the UK aviation industry which has suffered so badly since the start of the pandemic last March.

“Hopefully the new scheme announced by the government will help to alleviate the crippling cost pressures that anchor institutions such as Birmingham Airport are currently suffering and safeguard jobs across the wider industry.

“The Minister has said that grants should be available by the end of the financial year, but it 's clear those in the aviation industry need clarity right now so they can start to plan effectively for the months ahead and ultimately, access the cash as soon as possible.

“With the rollout of the vaccine accelerating across the globe, we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel and all being well, it means consumers can start planning overseas trips for the latter part of the year. ”

Under the new rules, which began today, all travel corridors, which have been in place to allow arrivals from some countries to forgo quarantine, will close.

All arrivals to the UK after that time will need to isolate for up to 10 days, although the quarantine period can be cut short with a negative test after five days.

People will also have to show proof of a negative test taken in the previous 72 hours before travelling.

Yesterday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also told the BBC'S Andrew Marr Show that Public Health England would be stepping up checks on travellers who must self-isolate, while enforcement checks at borders would also be "ramped up".

He added that asking all arrivals to self-isolate in hotels was a "potential measure" the government was keeping under review.