UK Aviation Policy

The UK government has a difficult and important task to craft policy for aviation. It is difficult because of widely divergent viewpoints and multiple stakeholders. It is important because aviation policy has long-term consequences with decisions taken now influencing the type of aircraft and the associated ground infrastructure that will be operating in the middle of this century. The key stakeholders, in approximate order of the political power they wield, are:

Business – concerned that in a globalised world it is important to have an efficient transport infrastructure.
Passengers – a large proportion of the electorate enjoy, and would like to retain, cheap flights.
Airlines – working to tight margins with fuel a high proportion of operating costs.
Airport Operators – concerned that they will run out of capacity, particularly in the South East around London.
Environmentalists – providing the inconvenient grit in the negotiations, concerned at the growth of emissions from aviation as a cause of climate change

Politicians tend to make decisions with input from focus groups, which in this case would be drawn from the stakeholder groups listed above. However if politicians were to take a principled approach, they would be assessing the priorities asking the question what is the key issue that has long-term consequences. Despite the protestations of other stakeholders, that issue is the rapid growth in emissions. On a principled long-term basis, the environmentalists have logic on their side. In reality that counts for little; the electoral cycle sets the timeframe and the first four categories of stakeholder have louder voices. What is very strange about this particular policy stalemate is that putting long-term environmental concerns as the foundation of aviation policy will lead to a golden age of aviation. The price is severe disruption in the short-term but the outcome is better for all stakeholders.


Fly and Be Damned: What now for aviation and climate change?

Politicians should read my book, and take a principled approach launching the next golden age of aviation.