Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, today provided some insights into the government’s thinking on the future development and growth of the UK aviation industry.
On aviation growth, Alexander, speaking at the annual conference of AirportsUK, said: “Aviation continues to persevere and thrive. July saw the busiest day for UK air traffic since 2019.
“Some 172 million passengers passed through your [UK airport] gates in the first seven months of this year. Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Newcastle airports continue to see year on year growth. And Birmingham just announced a £2 billion investment plan to grow passenger numbers.”
On airport expansion, she noted: “Months into my role, I approved plans to expand Luton Airport. With terminal upgrades and additional taxiways, it will almost double passenger capacity to 32 million per year. Months later, I gave the green light to Gatwick’s northern runway programme… unlocking new destinations and hundreds of thousands of extra flights.”
On SAF, she said: “The Mandate is now in effect. We have legislated for the Revenue Certainty Mechanism. And we’re funding SAF projects up and down the country. The challenge is now delivery, on a commercial scale. But the intent is clear – SAF will be the future, and that future will be designed with you, not imposed on you.”
On the benefits of aviation reform, she told delegates: “The (Civil Aviation) Bill puts a single safety rulebook in the hands of the CAA, replacing the current fragmented model.
“Our airspace should be the safest in the world, but it should also be flexible enough to keep up with new technology, and the Bill delivers on that ambition.”
She ended with a rallying call stating that airports were “front and centre” of the Labour government’s plans to restore growth in every postcode across Britain.
Talking to the airports in the audience, Alexander added: “The jobs you create. The trade you facilitate. The joy of travel and new experiences that you make possible, all underpin the country we want to be.
“That’s why your competitiveness, your resilience and your growth matter to me as your Transport Secretary. It’s why I will never dim the light of aviation’s ambition. Because when you succeed, Britain succeeds.”
