Airports in England warn of 20,000 job losses unless Government waives business rates for a year

Airports are set to axe up to 20,000 jobs unless the Government intervenes by waiving business rates to help them cope with the Covid-19 crisis, ministers have been warned. The Airports Operators Association (AOA) Monday announces its appeal for urgent business rates relief to bring the industry in line with the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors and other nations that have benefited from such support. It says the failure of the Government to provide business rates relief has made the financial challenge faced by airports significantly worse after a near-collapse in passenger numbers since March. It is seeking a year’s relief from business rates for all airports in England and Wales after independent forecasts that it will take up to four years for passenger numbers to return to pre-Covid levels despite the Government's easing of quarantine with "air bridges." The AOA says airports in England have paid more than GBP70m in business rates since the start of lockdown in March despite passenger numbers being down by around 97%. The annual cost of business rates for airports in England is more than GBP210m. By contrast, airports in Scotland have been given 100% rates relief for a year from the Scottish Government while those in Northern Ireland have been granted the same relief until March next year. <br/>