New campaign calls for the Freedom to Fly

Wednesday, 17 Jan, 2002 0

The Freedom to Fly Coalition, a new group calling for a long term growth plan for the UK’s airports launched earlier this week.

The Coalition has the backing of high profile organisations – including the CBI, ABTA, the Guild of Business Travel Agents and the British Tourist Authority – as well as trade unions, airlines, airports and other businesses. Its launch comes ahead of the government’s Aviation White Paper which is due to be released this year and will look 30 years ahead.

According to a MORI poll commissioned by the Freedom to Fly Coalition the majority of the British public support the case for more capacity to made available at UK airports to maintain the freedom to fly and sustain the economy, with proper care for the environment.

The campaign argues that without more capacity, the result will be more delays, higher prices and less choice for the public. It claims that jobs, business, tourism and the British economy would also suffer.

Campaign director Joe Irvin told TravelMole: “Governments in the past have tended not to get to grips with the issue. This Government said in its manifesto that it would have a white paper on aviation looking 30 years ahead. We need to start taking decisions now so that we don’t end up with the same situation as we have with the railways through decades of under investment.”

According to Freedom to Fly over 180 million passengers used UK airports in the year 2000, meaning the demand to fly has risen threefold since 1980. The Government’s central forecast is that demand will double again in the next 20 years.

Mike Hodgkinson chief executive of BAA said: “Sustainable growth is a challenge we ought to be able to cope with, if we plan ahead. With demand due to double, all the UK’s airports will have to play their part in meeting what the travelling public want.’

Rod Eddington chief executive of BA added: “Too many times in the past, Government have dodged crucial decisions in aviation. Now the Government has to make decisions to avoid creating a capacity crisis in the next few decades.”

The main findings of the MORI poll are:

By far the most common reason for flying is to go on holiday. But 24% of those taking flights in the last 12 months visited friends and relatives, and 15% went on business.

76% of people believe that air travel should be allowed to grow to match rising consumer demand but with proper regard for the environment.

85% of people believe that air travel helps boost the economy, jobs, tourism and inward investment in Britain.

When planning a holiday or business trip, 80% of people who have flown think it is important for them to be able to choose to fly where and when they want with around half thinking it very important.

9 out of 10 people have travelled before by plane and 8 out of 10 hope to fly as often or more frequently in the future.