Govt pledges financial support for English airports

The financial boost will “address fixed costs” and be capped at £8 million per site.

Opening early next year, the scheme will “shore up jobs and reinforce local economies”, the Department for Transport said in a statement.

The support comes as the government announces a new “test to release” scheme to slash the 14-day quarantine requirement by up to two-thirds.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “The aviation industry is vital to our economy – creating jobs and driving growth- which is why we have supported them throughout this crisis through the job retention scheme, loans and tax deferrals.

“This new package of support for airports, alongside a new testing regime for international arrivals, will help the sector take off once again as we build back better from the pandemic.”