SPAA president Joanne Dooey said the Scottish government had "no commitment to the opening of international travel" following remarks by first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Sturgeon told Sky TV’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday there was a big risk from new variants of the virus, "variants that might be faster spreading, that might be more severe and crucially variants that might undermine the efficacy of the vaccine".

"So we’ve got to be very careful about that," Sturgeon said. "Which is why I think one of the restrictions we’re all going to have to live with for longer is a restriction on international travel."

Dooey said the SPAA was disappointed "by such negativity" and the lack of a proactive approach to restarting travel.

"Restarting international travel will be crucial to kickstarting Scotland’s economy, yet business and leisure travellers are being given no inkling about when and how this will be accomplished for Scots," Dooey said.

"We will lose jobs and importantly our connectivity to the rest of the world. The collapse of our industry is being fast-tracked."

She said Sturgeon’s comments meant the 17 May restart with a "four nations" approach was now unlikely.

"What is likely without a four nations’ approach this summer is that those who want to travel and who can afford to, will travel to English airports at the expense of the Scottish economy."