Bristol airport has made five recommendations to reduce congestion in the South East by boosting regional airports.
Entitled ‘Giving wings to airports across the UK’, Bristol airport is launching the submission at the Airport Operators Association (AOA) Annual Conference in response to the Government’s consultation on its Draft Aviation Policy Framework.
Its five recommendations are to rebalance the economy by supporting growth in all the regions, invest in surface access to airports outside London, support inbound tourism to the regions, revise travel policies to encourage passengers to use airports in the region which they are located and to reduce the regulatory burden and costs for airports.
Bristol airport’s chief executive officer, Robert Sinclair, said: "It is critical to remember that significant airport capacity already exists in the UK regions.
"Government policy should encourage the use of this capacity and should encourage private sector investment in long-term infrastructure.
"Not only will this relieve congestion at airports in the South East, but it will help rebalance the economy at the same time."
Various recommendations are being made to the Government which include a third runway at Heathrow, expanding Gatwick and building a new airport in the Thames Estuary.
A commission chaired by ex-Financial Services Authority boss Sir Howard Davies to examine ways to expand airport capacity will report in 2015, leaving the decision to the next government.
