Unite assistant general secretary Diana Holland said an end to the furlough scheme this month would result in more jobs being "needlessly lost".

Holland said aviation was in particular need of supports, with its recovery "still delayed". "Unlike any other sector, [it] is hugely reliant on the lifting of international restrictions," said Holland.

"As a minimum, the furlough scheme should continue for the aviation sector. A failure to do so will dramatically damage the long-term recovery of this critical sector to the UK economy."

Her plea, The Guardian reports, was echoed by fellow union leaders on Tuesday (31 August) who agreed aviation workers and airport staff should be allowed to remain on furlough until next year when it is more likely travel restrictions will be eased sufficiently to allow the airline and aviation sector to recover.

Earlier this year, a cross-party group of more than 70 MPs called for furlough to be extended for travel, tourism and aviation sector roles.

However, theirs and the industry’s plea was rejected by the government.

Around 1.7 million workers were understood to be on furlough at the start of August, according to The Guardian.

Kate Bell, head of economics at the TUC union, said it would predominantly smaller firms that would have to make proportionally larger cuts to their workforces.