DfT and blame game

A 22-point plan was published by the Department for Transport (DfT) on Thursday (30 June) with ministers calling on the industry to “do everything within its power” to fix the issues faced during the Easter and half-term holidays.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said holidaymakers “deserve certainty” ahead of the first summer free of restrictions since the pandemic began, adding: “While it’s never going to be possible to avoid every single delay or cancellation, we’ve been working closely with airports and airlines to make sure they are running realistic schedules.”

The industry’s reaction was positive but muted with the Government certainly not off the hook.

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive, Airlines UK, the body representing most of the UK-registered carriers, said: “The whole sector is working closely with ministers and the CAA to build greater resilience into operations this summer”.

Alderslade described UK aviation as “a complex international eco-system with many moving parts”, which he assured were “working collectively” and promised stakeholders “will do everything we can to ensure this summer is a success”.

Meanwhile, Clive Wratten, Chief Executive, the Business Travel Association, described the focus on the summer leisure season as “disappointing” calling for a “longer-term strategy” to overcome current disruptions also facing business travellers.

“It is imperative people travelling for work can have confidence in their arrangements, in order to boost our international trading status”, he said.

The 22-point plan:  www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-government-action-to-minimise-disruption-in-the-aviation-sector-and-protect-passengers

Index/Home page
 

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