Courts told the Airlines 2021 conference: “I am acutely aware of the importance of various segments of the year to the industry. We’ve said we’ll review in January and that’s what we’ll be doing.”
Asked if this might be brought forward, he added: “At the moment, it’s January.”
EasyJet chief commercial officer Sophie Dekkers told delegates having no new policies on vaccines and testing would affect peaks.
“It’s wishful thinking we will have anything in place before Christmas," she warned. "Without that guidance, that demand is not going to be there.
“We’re looking at a positive summer, but really just the peak summer at the moment.”
She added: “The fully vaccinated should not have to test; they haven’t had to in Europe since 1 July."
Courts stressed the government would be looking at “anything we can do to simplify travel” but made no commitments. “This is a massive issue, I understand that, but we have to balance protecting public health at the same time as protecting aviation,” he said
He added the January review would also look at whether more subsidised domestic PSO (Public Service Obligation) routes could be introduced. “Regional aviation is a big part of levelling up, we will be looking for opportunities to sponsor and induce that in due course,” he said.
His comments came as the Department for Transport announced £4.3 million funding for two PSO routes, Gatwick-Newquay and London City-Dundee.
Confidence
Courts also said he would not intervene in the row over Heathrow’s plan to hike landing fees, which will potentially push up fares. “Heathrow is a private enterprise, but it’s subject to a cap by the CAA,” he said.
He also defended the new ultra long-haul APD band and the cut to domestic APD. “Those who fly the most pay the most,” he said. “What we’re looking to do is help with APD reform at the same time as balance our environmental credentials.”
Peaks will also be preceded by a "book with confidence" campaign led by the CAA.
CAA chief executive Richard Moriarty said: “We will play our role in putting out communications and campaigning on booking with confidence. It’s important we have a good story to sell going into that peak booking period in January.”
