Airlines urge government to extend furlough scheme

Airlines UK, the trade body for UK registered airlines, has written to the chancellor Rishi Sunak seeking an extension, with a slow recovery for air travel forecast.

EasyJet and British Airways are among the carriers to have capitalised on the scheme so far, with BA having furloughed in excess of 30,000 staff.

In its letter, Airlines UK warned a return to normality for international aviation would be "gradual", and that aviation was facing a "cliff-edge post-June" once the furlough scheme lapses on 30 June.

The group said the government should consider reviewing the scheme on a sector-by-sector basis as some parts of the economy recover as a faster pace than others.