Survey Confirms Peel Airports’ concerns over UK Aviation Policy

Peel Airports, the owners of Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, have today welcomed the results of a recent survey of well over 2,000 British adults that highlights the need for urgent action to improve UK aviation policy.

The survey conducted on behalf of industry body the Airport Operators Association (AOA) shows that:
73% of UK business leaders believe that it is more important than ever that the Government supports the aviation industry to help deliver its growth and jobs agenda

82% of the British public think that Air Passenger Duty (APD) should be cut or frozen in George Osborne’s forthcoming Autumn Statement.

Peel Airports believes that the lack of support for aviation through a variety of key policies means that the UK Government continues to turn its back on the industry and regional airports when both have the ability to help kick-start regional and national economies. The results of the survey show these are views shared by the vast majority of business leaders and the wider public too.

Peel Airports are due to respond next week to the Government’s consultation on its Draft Aviation Policy Framework and will be highlighting the need for a coherent national aviation policy which places the industry and regional airports at the heart of the economic drive for recovery and rebalancing of the national economy.

Peel Airports will also highlight the damage to the industry and regional economies caused by policies, which include APD and the support given to other transport modes at the expense of aviation.

Craig Richmond CEO of Peel Airports Limited commented, "Airports such as ours have the opportunity to get the UK regional and national economy back on track, however we need Government policy to work with us not against us. This survey demonstrates overwhelming public support for this approach too.

"We will be calling for a joined up approach by the Treasury, the DfT and the industry on resolving the APD issue and support the need for an independent study of the economic impact of APD on the industry, UK regional airports and the UK Plc."

"Our counterparts across Europe continue to have the support of their Governments making them far more attractive to airlines than we are."