2021. However, it is a long-standing policy that air passengers should fund the cost of their travel, including the costs of changes to airspace structure, rather than being subsidised by the taxpayer. The funding packages were provided on an exceptional basis to assist the sector to resume progress on this crucially important project during the pandemic. This funding was agreed on the condition that sponsors would fund the rest of the programme under the user pays principle. As the sector continues its recovery sponsors of the programme are expected to resume responsibility for funding further stages of the programme.