Urgent support for aviation communities needed after stark report forecasts almost £200m lost and a third of jobs at risk in Hounslow
Hounslow Council, the local government district where Heathrow Airport is situated, is calling for targeted support for aviation communities following a report which forecasts thousands of job losses and a possible £189 million hit to the borough’s economy.
“With thousands of jobs already lost in aviation due to the impact of Covid-19, the independent report by Oxford Economics estimates that 2021 could see a further 4,000 job losses in the borough directly due to the reduced number of visitors to Heathrow. In turn, this could lead to £189.5m being lost from the local economy, extreme hardship for local families and communities whose livelihoods depend on the aviation sector, and extra pressure on government support services,” the council said in a statement about the report.
The report, published on the day of a Parliamentary debate on the impact of coronavirus on aviation, studied the effect of reduced activity at Heathrow Airport and its implications for the borough. It estimates that Heathrow supports more than 16,000 jobs and, given Hounslow’s proximity to the airport and the M25, this creates a catalytic effect that attracts businesses to the area, especially transport and logistic companies.
It is estimated that this catalytic effect brings the final total to between 29,000 and 43,000 jobs, nearly a third of Hounslow residents’ employment, the future of which could be in doubt.
The Council will also be leading an exploration, alongside the West London Alliance and other local authorities impacted by the downturn in aviation, of proposals for an Aviation Community Fund.