Good news: Speak up for travel. Bad news: We need to do so much more (the truth sometimes hurts)

The skies above us remain relatively empty

There comes a time in most peoples lives, when confronted with chaos, there is the realisation that there is virtually no other alternative than to step up to the plate and do what needs to be done. This often takes us outside of our comfort zone, so be prepared for what comes next; either the desired change, accept that we could have done more or the feel consequences of doing nothing. 

Covid 19 presented a level of chaos to the aviation industry that we had not previously seen. Despite the challenges it posed, it didn't deliver an industry champion, someone or a collective that, commercial rivalries aside, actually steps up to that plate and takes it upon themself to powerfully represent our Industry for the greater good, an Aviation 'Tsar' perhaps. 'Cometh the hour; cometh the man (or anybody)'? Not so far. 

In the last year, I've written extensively on this and related subjects. Earlier blogs have highlighted how the pre-pandemic Industry ran itself, put into context the effect of Covid, exacerbated by Brexit, and shone a light on the damage that continues through apathy, poor decision-making, and the lack of acceptance that there is an urgent need for change. 

The first principles of efficiently running any business are based on a specific set of certainties. Without certainty, chaos ensues, forcing us to often accept 'indicative' as a poor substitute. As a result, inefficient practices, loss of revenues and even bankruptcy often occur. Scale this up to the whole of the UK aviation industry and you'll see why we have the problems currently facing us.

A year ago, Ryanair's Michael O'Leary (referring to the 2020 summer season) called it early, saying that 'the summer is lost'. He is one of the few that have been brutally honest about the government handling of the sector. They, and many others, appear to have lost faith in the government, their inability to second guess them accurately results in them make their own decisions to protect their business based on what they think may happen as opposed to the government line. These decisions are often not positive for UK Plc but you can't blame them.

The government has form on this. Although it felt like a paradigm shift at the time, you can trace this back to (or possibly before) easyJet's decision in 2017 to form easyJet Europe off the back of Brexit uncertainty (no assurances could be provided by the government), which started that particular ball rolling. Perhaps one positive to come out of the uncertainties is the Industry's increased and perhaps forced ability to become nimble and mobilise at relatively short notice, something that should serve it well in the future. 

Since the first vaccination back in December 2020, and despite the planning before it and relentless vaccination campaign since, the vaccine still has no defined travel currency. So we can't yet use the fact that we've been vaccinated to go anywhere or do anything.

in response to so-called vaccine passports, Grant Shapps MP, UK Secretary of State for Transport (Listen to the interview here), advised this morning on LBC that 'there are quite a lot of things that we need to sort out' and that no decision would be made before 17th July. In the best-case scenario, most of this summer is likely to be lost. 

Knowing the continuing effect that the pandemic has on the Industry, the many months of planning prior to the vaccine roll-out, and with the summer season now upon us, it defies belief why, in mid-June, seven months after the vaccine programme was rolled out, that the government has this response.

The government has the unenviable task of supporting all Industry across the UK and attempting to rebuild the economy. They provided financial support for the Industry, but they could have done more. For example, very few UK registered aircraft are currently bringing Covid related supplies into the UK from Asia; it's a significant market.  

The government are not the Industry. The Industry is not the government. Obvious, maybe, but the fact is they need each other and need to work together to create that win-win to help rebuild both the economy and the industry. The Industry must play a major role in helping to shape its recovery and define its future. 

But where is the industry voice? This week the 'Speak up for travel' campaign got underway and colleagues should be genuinely applauded for their stance and action. However, this is the first significant collective and cohesive action from any/all industry sectors to make it into the national consciousness that we've seen in the 15 months since the pandemic started. 

Like many of you, I saw the many posts on LinkedIn and media on 23rd June, and then they stopped. The day of action was over. This, together with media interviews and photocalls on empty airport runways, are all positive moves, but the stark reality is that it's simply not enough. Perhaps the 'Speak up for travel' campaign should re-surface every month, maybe every week, applying pressure where it counts until something changes. 

One of the apparent benefits of living within a democratic society is that we have the right to express our views and/or dissatisfaction publicly. This week we have seen some positive action, our Industry finally being represented, but that doesn't mean that the government have to or will listen. Unfortunately, the evidence from the latter part of this week is that they haven't. 

For many months, through my blogs, I've called for influential industry leaders to come together, get a permanent place at the top table, be part of the decision making process, form a task force. If that means metaphorically kicking down the door at 10 Downing Street to be heard, then so be it. If Marcus Rashford can do it for school meals, surely our industry leaders can and must do it for Aviation. 

As Jordan Peterson says in his book, The 12 Rules For Life, "Don't underestimate the power of vision and direction. These are irresistible forces, able to transform what might appear to be unconquerable obstacles into traversable pathways and expanding opportunities. Define who you are. Refine your personality. Choose you destination and articulate your Being. As the great nineteenth-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche so brilliantly noted, 'He whose life has a why can bear almost any how'."

Sometimes the truth hurts; but to understand what we need to do we first need to understand the problem.