Airlines UK comments on the ongoing problems of long queues at European airports as a result of changes to security measures at the border.

Commenting on the ongoing problems of long queues at European airports as a result of changes to security measures at the border, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Airlines UK wrote to the Department for Transport about this issue back in May, following similar problems reported at some airports, notably in southern Europe, over the busy Easter period. Ministers responded in June to say they were encouraged by the lack of any further reports of disruption since the implementation of these changes. Clearly the situation has changed markedly as we enter peak holiday season, and it is now up to the UK Government to work with industry to use whatever influence it can within the EU to persuade Schengen Member States to resource their border operations properly. This ‘resourcing up’ has failed to happen thus far and it is passengers and consumers – many of whom are from the UK – who are suffering as a consequence.”

Airlines UK comments on the announcement by Heathrow Airport on passenger charges once its new runway is built

Commenting on the announcement today by Heathrow Airport that they intend to keep passenger charges “as close as possible to current levels” once its new runway is built, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Airlines agree with Chris Grayling that expansion at Heathrow must be delivered while keeping charges flat. The Secretary of State’s statement was an important acknowledgement that extra capacity must not just be waived through under any circumstances, at any cost.

“Heathrow is already the most expensive airport in the world and post-Brexit the UK will need to compete even more with other hubs.

“We look forward to seeing the detail behind Heathrow’s announcement. Airlines are clear that the cost of expansion that they and their customers pay for is a key factor. We need the right solution at the right price, at the right time, in order to meet the needs of customers, and over time the aim should be for charges to come down as the number of movements increase.”     

Airlines UK comments on the announcement by the Government of a new UK Aviation Strategy

Commenting on the announcement by the Government of a new UK Aviation Strategy, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, 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. 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.”

Airlines UK respond to Sunday Times article on Brexit and aviation market access

Commenting on a Sunday Times article (16/07/17) on the impact of Brexit on the UK airline industry and the selling of air tickets before March 2019, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Aviation provides important economic connections which must continue after the UK leaves the EU. We look forward to the EU and UK reaching an agreement as soon as possible that allows consumers and businesses from all European countries to continue to travel to and from the UK and around Europe just as they do today. It also means protecting current market access to and from the US and international destinations. 

“The UK is the 3rd largest aviation market in the world, behind only the United States and China, with connections to over 370 international destinations, and within the EU we are the largest by far.  Aviation is an enabler of economic growth and jobs, it is not a traded good. People use airlines to get somewhere and to do something. This means that aviation brings value to both the UK and the EU, it is not only a British or an EU export. There is clearly an incentive, therefore, for both sides to conclude an agreement sooner rather than later, to provide clarity to both consumers and airlines.” 

Airlines UK comment on the new regime for night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports

Commenting on the publication of the Government’s decision on the new regime for night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Airlines – and manufacturers – have worked hard over previous night flight regimes to invest in the development and operation of aircraft technology to reduce noise. Our member airlines have introduced over 470 new, quieter aircraft into service in the last 10 years. This is set to continue with a further 400 new aircraft still on order. This represents a combined investment by UK airlines of around £80 billion.

 “We are concerned that the Government’s approach to night flights, as announced today, will no longer incentivise such investment in the future and penalise those carriers who have made early investment decisions involving aircraft now being included in restrictions.”

Airlines UK Chairman speaks at The Aviation Reception

Jane Middleton, Chairman of Airlines UK, addressed the Aviation Reception hosted in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 11th July. The event was supported by Airlines UK, ABTA, AOA, Bar-UK, IATA and Sustainable Aviation. Jane’s speech can be found below.

“On behalf of Airlines UK and our airline members, I’m delighted to welcome you to the Aviation Reception along with Karen and Mark this afternoon.

Before I begin, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the other supporters of this event and particularly from an airline perspective I must highlight the support of IATA and BAR-UK for this reception. Combined, our three organisations represent virtually the entire UK and global airline sector. For clarity, that’s the airlines which facilitate trade and connect businesses, friends, families and visitors from all across the UK to the rest of the world.

As many of you are aware the list of key policy areas facing our industry at this time is extensive. However, today I want to focus on just three and it will come as no surprise that one of these is Brexit.

Airlines UK members are clear they want the UK to retain current market access to the EU, US and international destinations and for the Government to prioritise aviation issues in the Brexit negotiations. From the excellent dialogue we have had across Whitehall in recent months we recognise this is a high priority for Government and we look forward to continuing discussions.

In addition, there is a clear desire from UK industry to continue our membership of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). With all the EASA rules and regulations continuing to be applicable to UK operators and companies whilst the UK maintains full voting rights within EASA.

The second issue is the Airports National Policy Statement – the draft of which the Government released earlier this year. Airlines UK responded in detail to a number of questions raised in the document, but we were more concerned with something the NPS did not fully address: the issue of cost and affordability.

Although we have been reassured by previous comments from the Secretary of State that the Government is looking for the “right scheme at the right price”, we were disappointed that the draft NPS did not adequately take into account the issue of affordability. Our members do not support expansion at any price and any new infrastructure must be cost effective. Airline support for expansion at Heathrow is conditional upon charges being kept at current levels with the ambition for lower charges over time, and carriers reserve the right to withdraw their support if this does not happen. In addition, we feel there should be greater emphasis on the consumer – the manner in which consumers will be properly represented should be detailed explicitly within the NPS.  

The third area is the Aviation Strategy. We would urge that the process for the strategy is kept as simple as possible. We stand ready to work with and support the Government as it prepares to publish a series of Green Papers in the coming months, but there are several pressing areas that Ministers should be focusing on in the short-term – these include delivering expansion at Heathrow, modernising our airspace and working with the industry to improve operational resilience. There is no doubt that the Strategy is a useful opportunity to determine how best the Government can support our sector, however it must not become a distraction that hinders progress in the key areas.    

I am delighted to introduce the man responsible for delivering many of the things I have mentioned – Lord Callanan. Appointed Aviation Minister less than two weeks ago we welcome the opportunity to lay out our stall and hear from him here today. Please join me in welcoming the new Minister for Aviation – Lord Callanan.”

UK airlines respond to Heathrow Airport congestion charge proposal

Commenting on proposals put forward for a congestion charge to be levied on some air passengers driving to Heathrow airport, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, the industry body representing UK-registered carriers, said:

“Notwithstanding the fact that much of the pollution is caused by non-Heathrow related congestion, the Government needs to do more to improve public transport to the airport. Whilst access is very good in places, from the West and South, in particular, it is scratchy at best and it seems unfair to penalise people who have no other reasonable way, other than the car, of getting to their destination. Speeding up the delivery of western rail access to Heathrow should certainly be a priority for Government. We need much more consultation on this proposal – its knock-on impact on congestion elsewhere and its effect on consumers. This will, in effect, be another tax on air travel, at a time when we have the highest tax on aviation in the world in the form of Air Passenger Duty.”

Airlines UK responds to the Air Departure Tax Bill being passed by the Scottish Parliament

Responding to the passing of the final stage and approval of the Air Departure Tax (ADT) Bill in the Scottish Parliament today, a spokesperson for Airlines UK, the industry body that represents UK airlines, said:

“The Air Departure Tax Bill has now passed its final hurdle in the Scottish Parliament. From next year, Scotland will have its own tax regime for passengers flying from Scottish airports. We await the details of the ADT banding and rates, which are due later this year, with keen interest.

“At a time when competitor nations are busy reducing or abolishing their own versions of the Air Departure Tax – including Ireland, which has seen a surge in new routes and passengers since it took action to make its airports more competitive – it will make little sense for Scotland to put itself at a disadvantage by continuing to levy sky-high taxes on aviation.

“The airline sector has been clear that taking action on ADT will make a big difference to businesses and families – and provide a welcome boost to the Scottish tourism industry. Our members would see Scotland – a key market for them already – as an even more attractive destination to add capacity and put on new routes. Importantly, this could also be done in a way that is environmentally sustainable – thanks to the huge and continuing investment airlines are making in cleaner, quieter aircraft and the ambitious carbon reduction targets the industry – encompassing airlines, airports, manufacturers and others – has signed up to.”​

UK airlines are responding to the carbon challenge and can deliver growth in aviation through reduced levels of ADT

With the Scottish Parliament Finance and Constitution Committee today considering the Air Departure Tax Bill at Stage 2, Airlines UK, the industry association that represents UK-registered carriers, repeats its support for a reduction in ADT and highlights the commitment of UK airlines to sustainability and emissions reduction.

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said: “It is clear that existing rates of UK APD place Scotland at a competitive disadvantage compared to the rest of Europe and act as a barrier to trade, investment and tourism. Reducing the new Air Departure Tax by 50% would make Scotland a more attractive place for airlines to add capacity, delivering new routes and more services. This would have substantial economic advantages, with a 2015 York Aviation report concluding that such a reduction would create nearly 4,000 jobs and add £1 billion to the Scottish economy.

“However, airlines are clear that growth must go hand in hand with actions to cut global CO2 emissions and UK carriers take their environmental responsibilities very seriously. The industry is on target to meet its ambitious goal of reducing global CO2 emissions from all journeys, by half of their 2005 levels, by 2050 – with UK airlines having already reduced emissions by 20 million tonnes since 2005.

“This reduction has been achieved predominately through the introduction of over 470 cleaner, quieter aircraft into service over the last decade, with orders placed for another 400. These new planes offer at least a 13% improvement in fuel efficiency. Government data shows that in 2015, jet fuel deliveries to UK airports, for UK and non-UK airline operations, were 10% lower than in 2006, despite 20 million more air passengers being carried. Essentially therefore, from 2006 to 2014, growth in UK aviation was delivered without any increase in C02 emissions.”