UK government to offer airlines aid

[Devils Advocate]

See BBC: UK offers airlines aid (http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1709000/1709567.stm)

The UK government has announced a £40m compensation package for UK airlines following the 11 September attacks.
The money will cover lost revenue for the period during which American airspace was closed, including additional costs of dealing with passengers stranded at the wrong airports.

The Transport Secretary Stephen Byers said "the circumstances ... are indeed exceptional and therefore merit exceptional assistance."

The aid package is part of a pan-European agreement not to subsidise airlines beyond the immediate effects of the terrorist attacks.

The package, Mr Byers said, would "help airlines at a time when passenger numbers on services between the UK and US, and therefore revenues, are still significantly below their pre-11 September levels".

Airlines can submit claims under the scheme immediately, Mr Byers said.

Of course, and as always, the UK PLC cavalry has arrived too late to rescue some deserving cases. :mad:

[jolly green giant]

Indeed it is far too late for some, also it implies that only those airlines that were immediately affected by the closure of the US airspace are entitled to claim aid. Bailing out BA again, when the main sufferers are the small independent airlines whose creditors have got the jitters and have demanded payments earlier than they would have normally, forcing many airlines into severe hardship. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[ 13 December 2001: Message edited by: jolly green giant ]

[exeng]

40 MIL only. Good Lord!

However I do agree with the JGG (above) that it has come far too late to save some operators and that cannot be right.


Regards
Exeng

[Hugh Jorgen]

This will no doubt be the same money that makes our health service second to none, or is it the money being poured into our schools to make even more cut backs. Is there anybody out there that actually believes this spin anymore? :mad:

[gyrohead]

I'm pretty sure that even now MO'L is working up a scheme to get his hands on the money....... ;)

[bow5]

Maybe it's some of the £700 million that went into building that wondeful dome.

Quite frankly, when jobs are on the line, £40 million is childs play compared to that shambles.

[ 14 December 2001: Message edited by: bow5 ]

[Polar_stereographic]

Rest assured that when the Gordon bloke at No 11 starts banging on about it and starts his usual treble accounting lark, the 40 million will become 120 million, just like the NHS's millions.

PS