UK airlines warn of further job cuts once furloughs expire

UK airlines are warning that thousands of jobs could be lost if the government fails to offer the industry an extension of the furlough program, as ever-changing travel restrictions and expensive tests wipe out a second summer season. Carriers have asked the government for a short-term, sector-specific jobs support plan to tide it through the usually lean winter months, Tim Alderslade, the chief executive officer of trade group Airlines UK, said Thursday. The British Airline Pilots Association separately called for a furlough extension, saying the sector is still effectively stuck in lockdown. “It’s a picture of contradictions,” said Alderslade, whose organization represents firms including BA and EasyJet. “The aviation industry is still effectively closed and the various, constantly changing travel rules in place are putting people off flying. On the other hand, the government is saying that things are open again and is pulling the plug on support.” The UK’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which supports 1.9m people, is due to end on Sept. 30 following the lifting of almost all pandemic restrictions last month. Yet the government policy of adding and removing countries from its so-called traffic-light system that determines quarantine requirements has kept demand for air travel below levels in Europe.<br/>