Ulster Unionist Peer, Lord Empey, has warned that a failure to support the aviation sector will put this vital part of our economy in grave jeopardy. Lord Empey is Vice Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Aerospace in Westminster.

Lord Empey said:

“As the uncertainty for travellers continues as a result of the Covid pandemic, enormous economic damage is being done to the UK's manufacturing sector. It has floored the aviation sector.

“A casual glance at any of our airports tells its own story. Closed shops and restaurants and empty terminals. What has this got to do with UK manufacturing? Well, the UK is No 2 in the world in the aerospace sector. Aerospace employs over 100,000 people, giving them highly skilled and highly paid jobs, with many spin offs into other sectors.

“Northern Ireland has a very well-developed aerospace cluster. Most people will be familiar with Bombardier, but the sector runs well beyond that. We enjoy a cluster of world class smaller companies, supplying the likes of Boeing and Airbus. Apprenticeships are excellent and highly sought after. However the impact of Covid and the failure to develop a plan to support our aviation sector is putting this vital part of our economy in grave jeopardy. While there is a significant military aerospace sector, without the commercial aviation sector, few companies would survive.

“The aerospace sector's world class research and development capability is also under threat. Work is ongoing on a range of projects to reduce the carbon footprint of the industry, including development of electric powered aircraft. With climate change at the forefront of the public's mind, this vital aspect of aerospace must not be allowed to wither.

“I support calls for the Government to proceed at pace and establish a UK Aerospace Taskforce.  I would urge the Executive, and the Department for the Economy in particular, to work closely with the UK Government to tailor its response to our current crisis to take account of the significance of aerospace to the Northern Ireland economy and realise that mitigating measures will need to go well beyond the current end of the furlough scheme.”