Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced that Leeds Bradford will receive a Government grant of up to £8 million, helping to protect jobs and the local economy.
The funding will be equivalent to the Business Rates that the airport would otherwise have to pay – meaning that Leeds Bradford will pay nothing in Business Rates in 2020-21.
The funding, 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.
Combined, the new funding 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.
Robert Goodwill MP said:
“I am thrilled that Leeds Bradford will receive up to £8 million to help it protect jobs during these challenging times. Along with the Government’s new testing strategy, I hope that this funding marks a real turning point for Leeds Bradford – which supports so many jobs and businesses in our community. This Conservative Government has provided unprecedented levels of support to protect jobs and businesses through the pandemic, and this latest support will be hugely important for helping Scarborough and Whitby to build back better after coronavirus.”
- We are providing £100 million to support airports in England, protecting jobs and giving airports the best chance of rebounding after coronavirus. Grants of up to £8 million will be available to commercial airports in England, and will be based on business rates owed in 2020-21. The money, which will also help ground handlers, will shore up jobs and reinforce local economies.
- We are reducing the time people need to self-isolate after travelling abroad to five days, with a negative test for coronavirus, helping people to travel more freely. From 15 December, passengers returning to England from countries not featured on the travel corridor list will have the option to take a test after five days of self-isolation, with a negative test releasing them from the need to isolate (down from 14 days blanket quarantine currently).
- We created a Global Travel Taskforce to support the travel industry and the safe recovery of international travel. Our new Test to Release strategy is thanks to the work of the Taskforce, which is jointly chaired by the Transport and Health Secretaries. We will continue to work with international partners and transport representatives to build on the recommendations in the Taskforce’s report, which also set out a pathway to restarting the cruise industry.
