Jim McMahon MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, commenting on the news that British Airways is making 12,000 employees redundant, said:

“This is devastating news for those affected at British Airways. The Government should have stepped in sooner and done more to protect their jobs. The aviation industry is critical to the UK economy but workers should not be being laid off by those at the top who have reaped the rewards from their hard work.

“It was always clear aviation needed a sector specific deal to alleviate the immediate financial pressures that exist, yet the Government failed to act.

“The Government must do more to ensure that airlines and airports have the financial resources needed to operate in a safe environment for staff and customers when the time is right to transition out of the lockdown.”