Necessary funding needed for UK government’s aviation ambitions

Responding to the publication of ‘Flightpath to the Future‘, Airport Operators Association (AOA) Chief Executive Karen Dee said:

“Airports provide the vital aviation links UK businesses need to trade within the UK and abroad. Post-pandemic, it is vital government and airports work together to rebuild and grow those links to support jobs and create new economic opportunities across all UK regions.

“It is vital that the government not only provide policy certainty to achieve a UK-wide recovery but also back their ambitions with funding. UK airports come out of the pandemic in a worse financial position than many of their international competitors, who received significantly more generous funds from their governments to weather the pandemic. To prevent the UK from falling behind during the recovery, the AOA set out a recovery plan, Reconnecting the UK, which includes funds for route recovery, a green airport fund to enable investments in a sustainable recovery and taking advantage of Brexit opportunities, such as arrivals duty-free shopping.

“Airports look forward to working with government through the new Aviation Council to ensure effective delivery of our shared ambitions, from supporting levelling-up to enabling people to take well-earned breaks abroad and reconnect with family and friends in other countries.”