The boss of the Unite union has joined calls for the UK government to provide more financial support for the country¡¯s aviation sector, proposing a ¡°radical blueprint¡± for how the industry should operate after the coronavirus pandemic is under control.

General secretary Len McCluskey has written to chancellor Rishi Sunak and transport secretary Grant Shapps outlining the steps he believes need to be taken to secure the long-term viability of the UK aviation industry. With industry bodies estimating that airlines will not see anything like the normal number of passengers until the second half of 2021, McCluskey said it is inevitable that companies will need financial support from the government.

But he added that Unite believes the sector will have to change the way it operates to have a viable future and to meet climate change challenges. He has therefore set out a number of actions the government will need to take when providing financing ¨C whether through loans or stakes. He said he has based his blueprint on those being discussed in the European Union and that it is comparable to the industry bailout provided by the US government as part of its CARES Act.

McCluskey said: ¡°What is clear is that the UK aviation sector will not simply fully restart once the lockdown ends and if we are to have the viable industry that the UK needs and which provides hundreds of thousands of jobs, further radical action is required.

¡°The UK¡¯s aviation sector can and will have a viable future, but it is going to look very different to what existed prior to the pandemic. The government has a key strategic role in shaping the future of what is and should remain a world-class sector.¡±

So far, chancellor Sunak has said he will only consider providing financial aid to airlines on a case-by-case basis after they have explored all other options, such as raising additional capital from shareholders. That statement came after the government had hinted that it was looking at providing an industry-wide bailout.?

While he believes the government should deliver that package of aid, McCluskey said all loans and stakes agreed should be fully repayable and that companies participating in the scheme should be prohibited from paying dividends, undertaking share buybacks, or capital contributions until 12 months after the money is fully repaid.

Furthermore, he is calling for all elements of executive pay to be capped and for employment terms and conditions to be protected, with any reduction in workforce restricted to 10 per cent or less.

He said support should only be offered to companies that are either suffering losses, acting to consolidate their business, or are attempting ¡°to rescue or replace a part of the sector that no longer exists¡±. He also wants smaller airports and air traffic control centres, as well as specific routes within the UK, to be publicly financed in order to retain "vital" connectivity.

Lastly, he believes the government should only provide financing on the condition that recipients have a clear action plan to become more efficient and offer more environmentally sustainable operations.

Commenting on steps the government has already taken to support struggling airlines and airports, McCluskey said: ¡°The action of the government in furloughing workers is an excellent first step in preserving jobs and companies in the aviation sector but further radical action is needed to secure its future.

¡°As an island nation, aviation is crucial to the UK for trade, business and maintaining social and family networks. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, aviation has continued to play a vital role delivering critically needed supplies such as medicines as well as repatriating citizens from around the world.¡±

He added ¡°In its election manifesto the government committed to enhancing regional connectivity. Unite believes that pledge needs to be honoured as well as ensuring international connectivity is maintained.¡±

The Unite union represents more than 60,000 UK workers in the aviation sector.