Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he will take to help manage the effect of flight cancellations on the running of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

My Department has been closely engaging with the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee, along with Birmingham and Heathrow airports. Both airports have put in place plans in collaboration with the Organising Committee to manage arrivals for the Commonwealth Games. Over the coming week the Organising Committee with support from my Department will be actively monitoring the arrivals of Games Family and athletes.

We know the aviation sector has faced challenges in recent months and we reacted quickly to support the industry, now the sector itself needs to take the appropriate steps to ensure realistic schedules are in place and customers adequately supported. This includes those coming to the UK for the Commonwealth Games.