News

The Airport Operators Association (AOA) has responded to today’s publication of the Government’s Mid-Term Review.

The much-awaited document, which runs to 46 pages, makes just a single mention of aviation, despite talking about length about Government plans to invest in infrastructure and modernise the UK’s transport system.

Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the AOA, said:

• “We’re disappointed that this much-heralded Review, which is intended to signpost what the Government wants to achieve between now and 2015, makes so little mention of aviation. We’ve started to see the Government talk more about the airports sector in recent months, and acknowledge the enormous contribution that it can make in terms of jobs, tax revenue and advancing the economic recovery. Therefore we were hopeful that some of the pressing issues facing our members, such as UK connectivity, airport taxation, and regulation would feature more prominently.
• “We would urge the Government to make 2013 the year that it addresses some of these issues. Whilst we welcome the publishing of the Aviation Policy Framework and Sir Howard Davies’ Airports Commission, which we believe represents a genuine opportunity to achieve cross-party consensus on ensuring the UK has vibrant point-to-point airport connectivity and sufficient world-class hub capacity, we also think the Government should be doing things to help UK airports right now, such as reducing Air Passenger Duty (APD), speeding up the planning system for airport development, and getting to grips with overbearing levels of regulation.”

For further information, please contact Tim Alderslade, Public Affairs & PR Manager, on 020 7340 0992 or email timalderslade@aoa.org.uk.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The Airport Operators Association (AOA) is the trade association that represents UK airports. Its mission is to see UK airports grow sustainably. It represents the views of UK airports to Government, Parliament and Regulators to secure policy outcomes that help deliver our mission. The AOA represents some 70 UK airports and general aviation airfields in the UK. For more information, please visit www.aoa.org.uk.