Luton MPs warn government 'time is running out' to save thousands of aviation jobs

Luton-based easyJet has already cut 4,500 jobs and closed its bases at Southend, Stansted and Newcastle airports.

And after a 75% drop in passenger numbers, Luton Airport is also consulting over 250 job cuts with a possible ripple effect along the supply chain - including taxi drivers, car parks, hotels and security.

In March, the government promised to “do whatever it takes” to get people through the coronavirus pandemic. As the furlough scheme comes to an end, aviation workers now face uncertainty as the sector continues to struggle.

Luton North MP Sarah Owen said: “Coronavirus has left people in Luton anxious about their livelihoods and people feel as if the government has left them on their own to fight for their jobs. We’ve had to wait six months for the government to even give us a chance to raise these issues with them in Parliament.

"The situation for airline and aviation workers is urgent. Time is running out. If the government waits much longer and continues to drag its feet, their promise to do whatever it takes will have been broken, more jobs will be lost, and lives ruined.”

The two MPs for Luton are calling on the government to extend its job retention scheme - due to end this month - for specific sectors which need more time to recover, such as airlines and aviation.

This would mirror action taken by the French and Spanish governments, who have extended their furlough schemes to a minimum of 12 months to save airline jobs. Aviation deals abroad have meant a halt to redundancies at Spanish firms Vueling and Iberia, while UK firms like British Airways have announced 12,000 job cuts, in addition to easyJet’s 4,500.

A total of 32,700 workers in Luton have been furloughed under the job retention scheme so far.

Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins added: “The global health crisis has had an unprecedented impact on the aviation industry. For months, the whole sector has made it clear to the government that urgent action is needed to prevent the long term devastation of aviation. Instead, the government has sat on its hands and let workers bear the brunt of the economic crisis.

“The government is bailing out businesses without imposing guarantees that jobs are protected and environmental targets are met. At the same time, they are ending the furlough scheme, therefore, passing the economic cost of the crisis onto local people and our regional economy. Lutonians should not have to pay for the government’s economic incompetency.

“Jobs, skills and livelihoods must be protected. I will continue standing up for our town and calling for a deal that saves jobs, sets climate targets and builds our economy back better than before.”