Government Failure To Act On Aviation Costs UK £56 Million

The Let Britain Fly campaign today criticised the Government for failing to respond to the Airports Commission Interim Report. Despite the report setting out recommendations for short term measures to boost UK aviation capacity, over 100 days have passed without an official response from Government.

Gavin Hayes, Director, Let Britain Fly, said:

“Over 100 days ago, the Government’s Airports Commission set out clear recommendations on short-term steps that would relieve pressure on the capital’s over-capacity airports and help the British travelling public. Not only has the Government failed to take these steps, it has not even responded to the recommendations. There is no justification for this lack of action.”

The Government’s failure to make a decision on airport expansion is strangling UK growth. Once introduced, the Airports Commission’s short-term recommendations would contribute £56m to the economy in 100 days, enough to fly 376 British business people a day to Beijing, or give 28, 000 British families a last minute Easter break to Lanzarote, just like the Prime Minister.”

Instead, the UK continues to lag behind competitors when it comes to international connectivity. This Easter passengers might pick up a last-minute flight from UK to Santiago, Spain but there is no direct flight to Santiago, Chile.”