UK government outlines draft aviation policy, but can it solve the sector’s problems?

Foreign airlines will be encouraged to develop routes from airports other than London’s Heathrow, the UK government announced today.

The announcement is part of a draft aviation policy framework that the Government is consulting on. The strategy will also include more frequent flights to emerging markets, and improved access to airports which will include £500m towards a new rail link to Heathrow.

However the consultation doesn’t cover the issue of a hub airport and the UK’s international connectivity, which will be consulted on later in the year.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: “This framework aims to strike a balance between allowing the aviation industry to make the most of our current capacity, while also recognising the need for a tough regime to tackle levels of noise experienced by residents on the ground.

“London is already one of the best connected cities in the world, but there is still an important but challenging debate to be had on how we accommodate the long-term growth of aviation. This framework provides the building blocks for this debate and I look forward to working with the industry, residents and other interested parties on this once they have had the chance to consider these measures.”

But whether these measures do enough to address the problems of air capacity in the UK will be strongly debated. What would measures would you like to see in the new aviation policy?

PHOTO: From Heathrow Airports Limited