Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the competitiveness of UK airlines of plans put in place by other European Governments to tackle the effects of covid-19 on their aviation industries.

The aviation sector is important to the UK economy and will be able to draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor. These measures will be essential to support the sector ensuring there is sufficient capacity to protect global travel routes, continue repatriation, freight and maintain vital connectivity.

Government has not yet undertaken a formal assessment of the impacts on competition of European support for airlines. We are committed to the recovery of the sector in order to ensure a global and connected Britain; support our levelling up agenda through regional connectivity and the strengthening of ties within the Union; enable strong sector competition on domestic and global levels; and provide critical infrastructure to support essential public services.