AGS statement following this afternoon’s announcement on international travel

In response to this afternoon’s announcement from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on the new system for international travel, Derek Provan, Chief Executive of AGS Airports Ltd, which owns Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports, said:

“Today’s announcement to overhaul international travel rules may be significant, but the reforms detailed today are what we have been urging the UK Government to implement for months. 

“The outgoing traffic light system was both costly and confusing. Not only did the data show it to be ineffective in terms of protecting public health or detecting variants of concern, but it has been extremely damaging to our industry which has been on the brink for the last 18 months.

“It was inconceivable to think 2021 would be worse than 2020 for aviation, however, that is the reality. Now that progress is being made to strip away the layers of complexity associated with international travel, we urge the Scottish Government to adopt a four-nations approach without delay.

“Moving forward we need the government to work with the industry to help rebuild passenger confidence and, more importantly, restore the connectivity we have lost.”