The government is being urged not to ignore pressing issues such as abolition of Air Passenger Duty and Heathrow expansion as it starts public consultation on a new UK aviation strategy.
Consumers are being asked to have their say on how the sector should respond to a range of technological, security, environmental and customer service challenges – including “looking beyond” a new third runway at Heathrow to making best use of regional airports.
Consultation on each of these areas will run throughout 2017 and 2018 and will be followed by the publication of the final aviation strategy by the end of next year, the Department for Transport announced today.
The public discussion aims to help shape and promote the future of the aviation industry both up to 2050 and beyond. How to make best use of existing capacity at all airports around the country is among the areas up for debate.
Airport bag check-ins in town centres and a “luggage portering” service are included as ideas the public is being asked for views on.
Other issues include possible new forms of compensation for noise or designing targets for noise reduction. Views on how it should support and regulate emerging technologies around personal travel are also being sought.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling revealed the strategy plans at the start of a £1 billion scheme to double the size of Manchester airport’s Terminal 2.
The project will create 1,500 jobs, allow for more international destinations, and grow passenger numbers from 27 million to 45 million a year.
Grayling said: “Aviation is central to our future prosperity as we leave the European Union. As a global, trading nation we want to build on the great industry we have today and create opportunities for people up and down the country.
“Our new aviation strategy will look beyond the new runway at Heathrow and sets out a comprehensive long-term plan for UK aviation. It will support jobs and economic growth across the whole of the UK.
“Our vision puts the passenger at the heart of what we do, but also recognises the need to address the impacts of aviation on communities and the environment.”
Commenting on the announcement, Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said: “We welcome the aviation strategy as a sign that government truly recognises the value and importance of aviation to the UK. We stand ready to work with and support ministers in developing this plan.
“For UK airlines we are looking for a strategy that will, amongst other key issues, assess the need for a substantial reduction in or abolition of Air Passenger Duty, the highest tax on air travel in the world, the requirement for a well-funded and effective border operation, opportunities to improve surface access and the current rules governing charges at airports.
“To successfully tackle these issues – the responsibility for some of which lies outside the Department for Transport – will require effective and considered engagement across Whitehall, something we haven’t always seen.
“If the strategy can address and deliver actions on some of these key issues it will prove to have been a valuable exercise.”
He added: “We would caution, though, that the strategy process is kept as simple as possible, given the government’s already packed aviation agenda.
“The pressing issues of delivering an expanded Heathrow whilst keeping the airport honest on cost and affordability, working with industry and community groups on modernising UK airspace, and protecting existing EU and international market access and our continued membership of the aviation safety agency EASA during the upcoming Brexit negotiations, must remain front and centre in the government’s thinking.”
Shaping aviation to help boost economic growth, connectivity and skills will be at the centre of a new strategy to prepare the industry for the next three decades and beyond, the Government announced today.
It also looks at how the Government can support future growth in an industry which directly supports 240,000 jobs and contributes at least £22 billion to the UK economy each year.
Manchester Airports Group chief executive Charlie Cornish said: “We welcome the secretary of state’s recognition of the important role that airports across the UK will play in driving economic growth, and commitment to looking at how airports like Manchester and London Stansted can make best use of their existing capacity.”
British Chambers of Commerce director general Dr Adam Marshall said: “It is crucial that the government’s future aviation strategy supports the continued growth and development of our airports, and frees them to make the best use of their capacity to link British businesses to markets all across the world.
“Stronger airports help our cities and counties attract more investment and visitors, and connect our firms to trading opportunities overseas – so we must enable them to grow and change to meet the demands of the future.”
Virgin Atlantic said that while the consultation is welcome, the final strategy must focus on the needs of the consumer and enhancing competition.
What the carrier called “the world’s highest long-haul flying tax” should be reduced and new slots at Heathrow, where capacity will be expanded to 135 million passengers a year, should be allocated in a way that makes British Airways less dominant.
The government is setting out six themes for consultation in an 82-page DfT document:
1. Customer service.
Which will look at how to ensure the industry is accessible for all and caters for an ageing population and passengers with restricted mobility; the consumer protection arrangements that should be in place when things go wrong; and how to deal with disruptive passengers. It also highlights new ways of working in other countries such as check-in facilities in town centres or luggage portering services, where bags are picked up from passengers before they reach the airport.
2. Safety and security.
Which will look at the technology that could be introduced at UK airports to counter the threat from terrorism; what more could be done to raise security standards; and whether current safety standards are acceptable.
3. Global connectivity.
Which will look at how the UK can improve our global connectivity for passengers and freight as the country leaves the EU and how barriers to trade can be removed.
4. Competitive markets.
Which will look at whether existing regulation produces the best outcome for consumers; how to encourage connectivity across UK nations and regions and how to stimulate competition to ensure the consumers have a wide choice of airports, airlines and destinations.
5. Supporting growth while tackling environmental impacts.
Which will look at how to achieve the right balance between more flights and ensuring action is taken to tackle carbon emissions, noise and air quality.
6. Innovation, technology and skills.
Which will look at which emerging technologies could significantly change the aviation market or bring benefits to passengers; and how the industry should address skills shortages and improve its diversity.
On the air tax, the strategy document published today says: “The government understands that there are concerns from industry and others about the impact that Air Passenger Duty has on the competitiveness of UK aviation.
“It also recognises that APD is the only tax paid by the airline sector.
“This is an area of policy led by HM Treasury and the government is keen to explore the impact of APD on competitiveness and how aviation taxation policy could support the objectives of the strategy.”
Southend airport chief executive, Glyn Jones, said: “Passengers need to see decisive action now to resolve the issues the UK is facing both in terms of packed flight paths and London’s other airports full to capacity.
“While the consultation is welcome, unless we move quickly, the punctuality issues and negative impact on the environment will only get worse.
“We can help today in terms of providing capacity and better customer service.
“We can support up to 10 million passengers per year but we need government to make critical decisions about dealing with capacity problems sooner rather than later.”