Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that Leeds Bradford Airport will receive a Government grant of up to £8 million to help protect jobs and the local economy. The funding will be equivalent to the Business Rates that the airport would otherwise have to pay which means that Leeds Bradford will pay nothing in Business Rates in 2020-21.
The grant, which will also be used to support ground handlers, comes as the Transport Secretary announced plans to reduce the time needed in self-isolation after travelling abroad. From 15 December, passengers returning from overseas will be given the option of having a coronavirus test after five days in isolation, with a negative test releasing them from the need to isolate for any longer.
I hope that this funding marks a real turning point for our local airport which supports so many jobs and businesses in our community. Along with the Government’s new testing strategy this will mean that the travel sector can look forward to a much brighter future and those people who would normally travel abroad for their holidays can start to look forward to doing so again in the not too distant future.
Combined the new funding, totalling £100million across the country, and quarantine measures will give a much-needed boost to the aviation sector, which has faced a challenging year after passenger numbers severely declined during the coronavirus pandemic. Airports, airlines and other aviation businesses have also been able to draw on the Government’s unprecedented support, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Business Interruption Loans. In total, the aviation and aerospace sectors have received over £9 billion in support.
