Pilots "dismayed" by budet announcement

LONDON - The British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) has is "absolutely dismayed" by the fact "that aviation was ignored in the Budget announcement" of the Government.

The pilot union says the Government has failed to recognise the dire situation the travel industry is facing and invest in the industry that will be vital to the economic recovery post Covid.

"The Chancellor said not one single word about aviation in his budget," Balpa Secretary General Brian Strutton said. "I am utterly dismayed that he can ignore this industry which is clearly going to be the last to recover from Covid."

While there was sector-specific money for non-essential retail, hospitality, leisure, gyms, personal care, arts, culture and the housing sector, there was not one word of backing for aviation.

"This is a massive slap in the face for the industry that has supported repatriations, brought in vital supplies and faced never ending changes to restrictions and rules and a total shutdown as a result of Government policy," Balpa said.