Glasgow Airport bosses say covid set industry "back decades" as new report published

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Glasgow airport chiefs say they are not operating on a "level playing field" as the UK Government publishes a new report on the toll the pandemic has taken on aviation in Scotland.The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee published its 'Airports in Scotland' report yesterday (Tuesday).And AGS Airport chiefs, who own Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton, told how the pandemic had set their sites "back decades".Commissioned last July, the inquiry probed the effect of the pandemic on airports in Scotland after passenger numbers dropped dramatically, hitting the industry hard.Figures show that passenger numbers hit rock bottom during the coronvirus outbreak - dropping by more than 90 per cent.Data provided by The Airport Operators Association to the government select committee revealed that 2020 saw a slump of 75.1 per cent - more than three quarters - against a lesser decline of 73.5 per cent south-of-the border.Two-thirds of passengers - some seven million, travelled between January and March 2020, before numbers dropped by almost 90 per cent between April and December the same year, as tough travel restrictions began to bite.The industry body also told how they believe that they "are probably looking at 2025 or 2026" before passenger numbers and the ability of Scotland to resume connections with the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, reaches previous levels.Post-pandemic economic recovery is crucial for Scottish airports, the committee - which includes Paisley and Renfrewshire South SNP MP Mhairi Black - heard, with the effect of travel restrictions across the UK, differing restrictions with the home nations, and connections from Scotland to the rest of the world all playing a vital role.The committee gathered