Article from BTNews 16 MARCH 2020
Airport operators' dinner
What is normally one of the social highlights of the airport/airlines year proved to be a dull affair at London’s Grosvenor House last Monday, 9 March.
COVID-19 defined the proceedings and the normally exuberant secretary of state for transport Grant Shapps could not brighten up the evening.
The traditional comedian, in this case Holly Walsh, missed the point entirely, emerging with a face mask, completely out of order. At least Shapps did a back-slapping walkout. No hand-shakes for the PPL, who knows about air traffic control first hand.
What did he have to say? Nothing really, but he did mention the latest aviation minister, Kelly Tolhurst.
“As we saw with Thomas Cook, no one company, no matter its pedigree or history, has a right to survive or place an undue burden on the taxpayer," Shapps said.
He was sympathetic to Flybe and its demise but said nothing of real substance.
“It’s the competitive nature of the industry that benefits passengers and opens up air travel to all. Yet for employees and suppliers, the distress and uncertainty at a time like this can be wrenching," he added.
"We are working on a regional connectivity review to ensure no community has to wait too long before the connections they need are re-established.”
OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)
All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum