Job loss fears for Gatwick area

The area around Gatwick Airport in West Sussex could be one of the worst hit by mass unemployment because of Covid-19, local authorities have warned. In a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the local councils and local enterprise partnerships cite a report from the Centre for Cities think tank suggesting that the area “is the most exposed locality to the economic impact of the pandemic”. The letter says around 18 per cent of Crawley’s workforce is employed in the aviation industry and related sectors. “The result is that over half of all of Crawley’s jobs are at risk of being either furloughed or lost completely.” Virgin Atlantic has already announced its withdrawal from Gatwick and British Airways is reviewing its operations. Local leaders want special assistance for the area.