Media Centre
Airlines UK acts as a collective voice for the UK airline industry in the media, issuing comments and press releases, as well as providing spokespeople and meeting interview requests.
Airlines urge clarity on UK remaining a member of European single aviation market
Responding to the result of yesterday’s referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union, Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), which represents UK registered airlines, said: “We fully respect the will of the British public as expressed in the result of the referendum to leave the EU. The Government must now urgently confirm that the UK will seek to remain a member of the European single aviation market once we leave the EU. We also call on the Government to prioritise all aviation-related negotiations, agreements and decisions during the EU withdrawal process. Given our status as an island trading nation, and with excellent international air links and travel now being even more vital for our future prosperity and economic growth, the environment for aviation post-Brexit must be clarified as soon as possible.”
June 24th, 2016
BATA comment on CAA annual airline statistics for 2015
Reaction to official statistics from the CAA showing BATA member airlines carried a record-breaking 144 million passengers in 2015 – a 4% increase on 2014.
June 2nd, 2016
UK airlines urge political parties in Holyrood to support Air Passenger Duty reduction
The British Air Transport Association (BATA), the trade body that represents UK-registered airlines, has urged political parties in Scotland to support the reduction of Air Passenger Duty (APD) by 50%. A consultation on plans by the Scottish Government to halve the tax, starting in April 2018, comes to an end next week (3 June), and UK carriers are calling for political parties in Holyrood to support the reduction when a vote ultimately comes before the Scottish Parliament.
May 26th, 2016
BATA recruits new Chief Executive
Tim Alderslade has been appointed as the next Chief Executive of British Air Transport Association, taking over from Nathan Stower who is moving on to take up a senior role with Virgin Atlantic.
April 13th, 2016
Significant step towards the abolition of Air Passenger Duty in Scotland
Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government’s consultation on a Scottish replacement to Air Passenger Duty, BATA Chief Executive Nathan Stower said: “This is a significant step towards the abolition of Air Passenger Duty in Scotland. The Scottish Government recognises that UK APD is holding their economy back. Reducing the tax by 50% as a first step would make a big difference to businesses and families. We urge that the reduction be implemented in full in 2018 to maximise the impact and benefits of the change.”
March 14th, 2016
Flying High? How Competitive is Air Passenger Duty?
With just over a week to go before the Budget on 16 March, a new analysis of the UK’s tax on flying has been published. The detailed report, produced by Steer Davies Gleave and entitled ‘Flying High? How Competitive is Air Passenger Duty?’, assesses and benchmarks the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD) against similar taxes in Europe and the rest of the world.
March 7th, 2016
Statement on disruptive passenger incidents
The vast majority of passengers reach their destination having had a safe and enjoyable journey. While disruptive behaviour remains rare, incidents can have a big impact – on fellow passengers, on employees, and on the disruptive passengers themselves. The results can be nuisance and annoyance at one end of the scale, to threats to passenger, crew and aircraft safety at the other.
March 2nd, 2016
BATA statement on incidents involving lasers
“The safety of passengers and crew is the number one priority for our member airlines and they take incidents involving lasers very seriously. Incidents are reported to the police to investigate and take appropriate action, as well as to the CAA, the regulator of UK aviation. People who buy and use these powerful lasers need to understand that it is a criminal offence to direct or shine a light at any aircraft to dazzle or distract a pilot and such action carries a maximum fine of £2,500. If a person is found to recklessly or negligently endanger an aircraft this can result in a prison sentence of up to five years.”
February 15th, 2016
UK tax on flying cost passengers over £3.1 billion last year
Speaking ahead of this evening’s gathering of the UK airline industry at the British Air Transport Association Annual Dinner, Nathan Stower, Chief Executive of BATA said: “New official figures from HMRC clearly show much how Air Passenger Duty has increased since it was first introduced. This UK tax on flying cost the public over £3.1 billion in 2015 – up from £331 million in 1995 and £892 million in 2005.That is a staggering increase of 250% in the last 10 years and over 840% since the first full year of its operation. Even allowing for growth in passenger numbers over the same period, this is still a huge burden on UK businesses, the travelling public, and UK aviation.”
January 27th, 2016
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