Airport bosses call for 'transparency' over travel decisions

The owners of Glasgow and Aberdeen airports has urged the UK and Scottish governments to be “more transparent” over their decisions on international travel.

AGS Airports, which also owns Southampton Airport, also warned that passenger confidence is at “an all-time low”.

It comes after the latest travel green list arrangements were unveiled on Thursday evening.

The Scottish Government said that Malta, Madeira and the Balearics would be amongst those to be added to the expanded list.

Meanwhile, a number of other destinations, including Tunisia and Uganda, were added to the red list, meaning that people who go there will be required to isolate for ten days on their return.

The latest changes are due to come into effect at 4am on June 30.

In a statement released by AGS Airports, it said that its airports are “virtually empty”.

It read: “We have repeatedly highlighted that aviation is not an industry that can just be simply switched on or off at short notice, so there will likely be no swell in travel from Scottish airports following [Thursday’s] announcement.

“Passenger confidence is at an all-time low and our airline partners are understandably finding it impossible to operate schedules given the unpredictability of the current situation.

“The UK and Scottish governments must be more transparent about the decisions they are making regarding international travel.

“This weekend should be the start of the peak summer holiday season and we’d normally welcome thousands of people each day through our doors and the terminals would be buzzing with excitement.

“Instead our airports are virtually empty for the second summer in a row.”

It added that the Travel Day of Action, held earlier this week, demonstrated the “strength of feeling amongst the 1.6 million hard working and dedicated people employed across our industry”.

Following the update on Thursday, Scottish transport secretary Michael Matheson said the Government would continue to work closely with the other home nations.

“From the outset we have said caution is required regarding international travel and people should think very carefully about travelling abroad as situations can suddenly change,” he said.

“We continue to work closely with the other home nations and are cautiously supportive of exploring options for the easing of restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers arriving from countries on the amber list – but only if the clinical advice supports it and if systems are in place to ensure the wider safety of the Scottish population.”