Fórsa’s 5,000-strong membership in the aviation industry is among those represented in a new grassroots campaign by aviation workers, Recover Irish Aviation, which aims to secure a package of supports to address the financial damage that the Covid crisis has inflicted upon the industry. The campaign also seeks to ensure “extensive planning to re-build Irish air connectivity from current levels.”

The campaign organisers, which includes IALPA representative Simon Croghan, say a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders is necessary so that the aviation sector will have a roadmap to work towards future recovery: “The Irish economy will not recover if Irish aviation does not survive. Significant support will be required to ensure this.”

Fórsa represents over 80,000 members, including around 5,000 workers in airlines, airports, air navigation bases, aviation regulatory bodies, and air traffic control.

The union has warned that thousands of jobs dependent on aviation could be lost permanently unless the Government acts to support the sector though a second summer of inactivity caused by Covid-related travel restrictions, most recently at a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications Networks in February.

The campaign highlights that Ireland has a world beating aviation sector built up over decades: “The innovation and hard work of our aviation community has left us with industry-leading airlines, first class airports and a dominant aircraft leasing industry, supporting 143,000 jobs and €17 billion (or 6.8%) of Ireland’s GDP, and connectivity which enables our island economy and society to flourish.”

Fórsa’s head of Services and Enterprises Ashley Connolly said the aviation industry will be vital to Ireland’s economic recovery, which itself will need to recover from the devastating effects of public health protection measures: “As the vaccination program is rolled out and we finally emerge from the awful effects of this pandemic it should be possible to devise a carefully phased plan for a better future,” she said.

The divisional executive has asked Fórsa members to back the campaign by signing its petition, which is available HERE. 

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