Bristol Airport has welcomed the launch of a government scheme to pay towards UK airports’ fixed costs as they face huge losses as a result of Covid-related restrictions.
Under the new scheme commercial airports and ground handlers will be able to apply for up to £8m each to support with fixed costs while travel restrictions remain in place. 
Ministers said the financial relief would help airports and ground handlers cover losses on costs including airfield operations, contracted services such as airfield and runway maintenance, and business rate bills.
Bristol Airport CEO Dave Lees, pictured, said “The aviation sector has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic and Bristol Airport, along with airports across the UK, has never had the opportunity to recover.
“The government announcement is a welcome relief during what continues to be the most challenging period in our history.”
However, he said since the government’s original rates relief announcement at the end of last year, the outlook for 2021 had worsened significantly.
“It is therefore crucial that today’s announcement is just the first step towards restarting the sector and safeguarding the connectivity and prosperity of the South West. 
“We will continue to highlight the urgent need for more significant economic support and importantly a clear roadmap to recovery.
“When the time is right and travel restrictions ease, Bristol Airport will be ready to provide the essential air connectivity to Europe and beyond again, which is what our customers are telling us they want.”
Bristol handled around 9m passengers in 2019, making it the UK’s ninth busiest and England’s third largest regional airport.
However, following the massive disruption caused by the coronavirus over the past year airport bosses have said they do not expect passenger numbers to return to around that level for at least three years.
Nearly 250 job losses were announced at the airport last June, including 76 directly employed staff and 176 by aircraft handling firm Swissport.
