UK Aviation industry set to prosper as UK prepares to leave the EU

·         Transport Secretary Chris Grayling in Switzerland to sign agreement ensuring continued flights between the two countries

·         Aviation Strategy Green Paper launched outlining government’s long term ambition for aviation success after we leave the EU

·         Route to future sustainable aviation growth with proposals to reduce emissions and noise levels

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will today fly to Switzerland to sign an agreement that ensures air services will continue operating between the UK and Switzerland after Brexit. 

The new bilateral deal guarantees the terms of the current EU-Switzerland agreement on air services, safeguarding the route that carried 6.8 million passengers by air in 2017 as the UK prepares to leave the European Union.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

“The UK aviation sector is the biggest in Europe and will play an even more crucial role as we further develop as an outward looking global nation.

“These agreements will ensure Britain continues to prosper as we leave the EU and I’m confident the UK will reach a mutually beneficial deal, whilst we continue to prepare for all eventualities.”

Alongside this, the Government is today launching the Aviation 2050 consultation - a long-term plan for sustainable growth to ensure the industry’s continued success.

It proposes new measures to ensure the UK’s aviation sector continues to bring significant benefits to the UK economy and citizens up to 2050 and beyond, including a new passenger charter, practical requirements to reduce emissions and noise levels and more use of innovative technology.

Aviation is worth more than £22bn to the UK economy through creating jobs, boosting growth and connecting regions. As passenger and freight demand increases, the consultation proposes a partnership for future sustainable growth. 

This will ensure the UK continues to benefit from a world class choice of connections and airlines while tackling the environmental and community impacts of flights.

The consultation also sets out how the government plans to modernise our airspace, ensuring journeys are quicker, cleaner and more efficient in the future, reducing congestion, noise and emissions and helping avoid future delays.

Aviation Minister Liz Sugg said:

“Our aviation sector is world-leading and the Aviation 2050 strategy will promote success in the coming decades.

“Our ambition is to expand our international connections, boost trade and investment and strengthening domestic links to support businesses and travelling passengers.

“By working with industry we will drive sustainable growth, ensuring the next generation will continue to benefit from the growing number of opportunities this exciting and innovative sector offers.”

Proposals to support aviation growth in the consultation include:

·         Setting out a framework for future sustainable growth

·         Commitments to signing further liberal air service agreements with countries around the world to boost trade and tourism

·         Measures to encourage greater competition and more choice for passengers

·         Modernised UK airspace to improve efficiency and reduce delays 

Building on the positive steps already taken by the industry in balancing further growth with action to address environmental and community impacts, the document outlines new practical requirements to reduce emissions and noise levels for local communities alongside tougher enforcement measures.

It includes plans to embed noise exposure levels into the planning approval process, the introduction of noise caps which will be regularly reviewed and enforced, along with the appointment of a Chair of the new Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise.

Tackling climate change will be a key requirement of future growth, with a proposal for negotiating a long-term global emissions target for international aviation to incentivise industry to adopt cleaner technologies. 

Plans include that applications for growth must also demonstrate they will not prevent the UK’s ability to meet its Climate Change Act 2008 targets.

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said:

The consultation follows parliamentary approval for a new runway at Heathrow earlier this year, which will provide new routes and support businesses across the country, supplemented by a world class package of compensation and mitigation measures for local communities.

The strategy will seek to further maximise benefits to regional growth and connectivity by encouraging efficient use of infrastructure beyond Heathrow, delivering greater capacity at UK airports and driving competition between airlines to deliver better value for money for customers.

Notes to editors

·         The Government has recently completed 10 agreements to replace EU agreements to ensure flights continue between countries including the US and Canada as well as new agreements with emerging economies such as Brazil 

·         The Aviation 2050 Green Paper will be open for a 16 week consultation period

·         The Government has today appointed Robert Light as the Chair of the ICCAN and published a new airspace modernisation feasibility study.

·         A commitment of up to £125m was also recently made by the Government as part of the Aerospace Sector Deal to develop the Future Flight Industrial Strategy Challenge to showcase the UK as a driver of new air mobility solutions, such as electric and hybrid aircraft, Urban Air Mobility vehicles and drones.