Nathan Stower Appointed As New BATA Chief Executive

Nathan Stower has been appointed as Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), the trade body representing UK-registered airlines.

Nathan will join BATA on 18 August. He is currently Head of Public Affairs at the Association of Train Operating Companies and was previously Parliamentary and External Affairs Manager at Virgin Atlantic Airways. He will take over from Simon Buck, who is retiring.

Barry Humphreys, Chairman of BATA, commented: “I am delighted that Nathan has agreed to join BATA and lead the organisation over the coming years. There is no shortage of challenges facing UK airlines and I have no doubt that Nathan will be able to play a leading role in meeting them and taking BATA to a new level.

“I would like to thank Simon for his hard work and successful leadership over the past four years. The appointment of a new Chief Executive presents the opportunity to review objectives and launch fresh initiatives and I very much look forward to working with Nathan going forward.”

Nathan Stower added: “It’s a huge privilege to represent Britain’s airlines, which are widely recognised as among the best in the world. Passengers, businesses and the British economy must continue to benefit from our competitive, dynamic and innovative sector.

“With a range of crucial political and regulatory issues affecting our members up for discussion and decision over the next few years, now is an important time for the sector to talk passionately about its existing contribution and future ambitions. I look forward to building on Simon’s achievements and working with our members, the BATA team, stakeholders and the wider aviation industry to help support a growing and vibrant airline sector.”

ENDS

BATA Chief Executive to Retire

The British Air Transport Association, the trade body for UK airlines, has announced that its Chief Executive, Simon Buck, will retire from the organisation in September 2014, after 4 years in the role.  A recruitment process has been launched to find his successor.

Barry Humphreys, Chairman of BATA, expressed his gratitude to Simon for his contribution to BATA’s work over recent years.  “Despite deregulation in some areas, aviation continues to be a highly regulated industry, subject to considerable political intervention.  If anything, therefore, the role of an airline trade body has become even more important and BATA has had to evolve to meet the growing challenges.  Simon has been central to that development and has played a key role in ensuring that BATA’s, and its airline members’, voices have been heard by government and regulators.  Today BATA is a more active and visible organisation than when Simon joined, for which he should take much of the credit.  He will be a hard act to follow, but we wish him all the best in his retirement”.

Simon Buck commented: “I have enjoyed working in this high profile role.  I became involved in aviation for the first time some 25 years ago and will miss many colleagues, both within the BATA membership, across the spectrum of the industry and in regulatory circles. But I am now looking forward to early retirement and seeing more of my family which will involve my being overseas for much of the time. I wish my eventual successor every happiness and success in rising to the challenges which airlines continue to face.”

Anyone wanting details of the Chief Executive post should contact BATA on 020 7222 9494 or e-mail [email protected].

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Budget 2014 – Air Tax Changes

Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), responding to the changes announced to Air Passenger Duty (APD) in today’s Budget Statement, said:

“BATA welcomes the Government’s reforms to the Air Passenger Duty at this Budget which reduces the overall tax take.

 “This will save passengers travelling long-haul for leisure and business purposes over £200m each year compared to the level previously set out. 

 “We hope this positive first step recognising the damage caused by this tax will lead to the Government undertaking further reforms of APD in future, such as on the double tax hit on domestic flights.”

 

 ENDS

CAA Final Decision on Airport Charges and Regulation – BATA Reaction

Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), responding to the publication today of the CAA’s final decision on airport charges and regulation for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, said:

“BATA airlines remain disappointed overall with the final decision on airport charges published by the CAA today.

“BATA supports improving the passenger experience and we believe this can be done without a repeat of the incredibly steep price rises we have seen in airport charges in the last few years. Prices at Heathrow are triple the level they were ten years ago and we believe there should be far deeper cuts in charges applied to each passenger at this airport for the next five year period instead of a further hike as is being permitted.

“At Gatwick, BATA airlines welcome the CAA’s decision that the airport requires continued regulation through an airport licence and that the costs of any second runway would be included in the licence in order to allow for scrutiny by the regulator.

“CAA’s announcement that its regulatory oversight will also now extend to the development of robust plans to deliver operational resilience to major disruption should also be welcomed.”

 

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BATA response to Interim Report from Airports Commission

Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), responding to the publication today of the Airports Commission ‘Interim Report’, said:

“There is much to digest in the interim report from the Airports Commission. BATA welcomes the clear recognition from the Commission that there will need to be net additional runway capacity in the south east of England, where demand is greatest, in the coming decades. We do not currently have a preference for the best options or sites, but along with our member airlines, will be considering the shortlist in more detail over the coming months.

“It is now up to Sir Howard and his team to work on the shortlist of options, making sure they consider both cost and value for money as part of their assessment criteria.  

“At the same time, politicians of all stripes must commit to supporting and implementing the Commission’s final recommendations when they are published in summer 2015.

“The Commission’s findings have to be the final word on the crucial question of airport capacity for a considerable length of time. The UK cannot afford further procrastination and delay in dealing with this issue.

“We note the recommendations from the Commission for improving capacity in the short and medium term and will be considering these with our members. The implementation of any of these recommendations should serve to improve the resilience of airports. The recent recommendations by the Commission and undertakings by the Government on improving surface access to airports are particularly positive.

“BATA will also continue to support growth and the need to secure capacity at regional airports. Given the crucial role they play in the UK’s infrastructure, it is vital that connectivity between the regions and any newly created capacity in the south east is preserved and enhanced.” 

ENDS

Reaction to Final Proposals from CAA on Airport Charges at Heathrow and Gatwick

Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), said:

“Airlines are deeply frustrated and disappointed with the final proposals for consultation on airport charges published by the CAA today. 

“BATA supports improving the passenger experience and we believe this can be done without a repeat of the incredibly steep price rises we have seen in airport charges in the last few years. Prices at Heathrow are triple the level they were ten years ago and we believe there should be a real terms reduction in charges applied to each passenger at this airport for the next five year period instead of a further hike as proposed today.  At Gatwick, an increase in prices will not be in the passenger interest and will fail to offer value for money while at the same time ignoring evidence for lowering prices.

“The CAA must use the final consultation period to review and rectify its decision and properly fulfil its duty to the consumer.”

 

ENDS

 

BATA Statement on Airport Capacity

BATA CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO COMMIT TO A ROBUST AVIATION POLICY TO SUPPORT AND GROW INTERNATIONAL AIR CONNECTIVITY

Marking the deadline on Friday 19th July for the submission to the Airports Commission of long term proposals for developing capacity, the British Air Transport Association (BATA), representing UK registered airlines, has issued the following statement:

The UK is a collection of islands off the coast of North West Europe with only one fixed land based connection to the continent. The role of aviation in maintaining the UK’s connectivity has to be seen in this context.

BATA firmly believes that both hub capacity and non-hub capacity should be increased where and as required. Increasing the UK’s capacity beyond its current constraints is essential to maintain the UK’s competitive position thus creating new business opportunities and jobs throughout the country.

As the UK’s only existing hub has effectively been at capacity for over a decade, expansion would allow UK airlines and airports to serve the customer demand that has either been lost to foreign airlines and airports or suppressed by the UK’s capacity constraints. The UK economy would derive significant and lasting benefits in the form of inward investment and jobs from improved connectivity with new markets around the world.

However, it is crucial that any new airport capacity is both affordable and located where airlines and passengers will use it. Unaffordable or poorly located capacity will not be used and risks being a ‘white elephant’.

Commenting, Simon Buck, Chief Executive of BATA said:

 “To ensure there is no further erosion of the UK’s competitive position, the Government must set a clear commitment to a new and robust national aviation policy that truly maintains the UK’s status as an international hub for aviation and also permits growth in non-hub airport capacity when and where demand requires.”

“There are significant risks associated with an increasing reliance on overseas hub airports to provide connectivity for the UK. Relying on overseas airports will lead to a degradation of UK connectivity while existing UK hub capacity slowly withers. As a country we would be handing over a strategic national asset and resource to foreign interests and would no longer be in charge of our own destiny. This would have serious implications for the future security of the UK’s global connectivity.”

ENDS

Air Traffic Control Strikes – Advice to Passengers

The strike by French Air Traffic Controllers is causing disruption for many passengers today (Tuesday 11th June) travelling between the UK and Europe. It also has the potential to cause delays on all flights through French airspace tomorrow, not just those to and from France. Passengers should check with their airlines, normally via the airline’s website, for further advice.

BATA Reaction to Publication of ITC Report on UK Aviation Strategy

Welcoming the ITC report, Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association, said:

The ITC Report makes a welcome contribution to the debate. The UK urgently needs to have a proper aviation policy. As yet it does not. It is essential for our future economic prosperity that the UK can compete effectively in both established and emerging markets.

This requires excellent aviation connectivity right across the country, ensuring the UK has both vibrant point to point airports and sufficient world class hub capacity. This means prioritising a favourable planning and regulatory regime and developing a bold aviation policy, providing for new airport capacity where it is required.

To ensure there is no further erosion of the UK’s competitive position, the Government must set a clear commitment to such measures being put in place, as part of a new aviation policy.“

Aviation Report by Transport Select Committee Welcomed By BATA

BATA Reaction to Publication of Transport Select Committee Aviation Report

Welcoming the ‘Aviation Strategy’ report from the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, Simon Buck, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association, said:

“It is good to see some refreshingly pragmatic and straight forward cross-party thinking from the politicians on the Transport Select Committee. We may not agree with everything they have concluded, but it is clear they set the national interest first and have been able to reach consensus on the way forward.”