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<p>The aviation sector is crucial to the UK’s economy and businesses across the industry
have drawn on an unprecedented package of economic measures which we have put in place.
This includes support through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of
England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
and the Airport and Ground Operations Scheme. In total, we estimate that by the end
of September 2021 the air transport sector will have benefited from around £7bn of
Government support since the start of the pandemic.</p><p>The Airport and Ground Operations
Scheme provides eligible commercial airports support towards their fixed costs. The
Scheme originally opened in January to provide support to airports for the 2020/21
financial year. In the March Budget, the Chancellor announced a six-month renewal
to the scheme from April, initial payments will be made towards the end of the summer.</p><p>The
caps on the support strike an appropriate balance between supporting airports and
ground handing companies in financial distress while protecting the interests of the
taxpayer.</p><p>The support will help airports and ground handlers following the introduction
of international travel restrictions designed to protect the public. We continue to
take a flexible approach and keep all impacts and policies under review.</p><p> </p>
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