Ministers have set out their long-term vision for the aviation sector covering issues such as technology, security and environmental challenges.
It has launched a call for evidence on a new long-term aviation strategy, which carries six objectives to ‘help the aviation industry work for its customers’.
These include making aviation accessible for all as the population ages, improving consumer protection arrangements and dealing with disruptive passengers.
The six key themes are:
- Customer service
- Safety and security
- Global connectivity
- Competitive markets
- Supporting growth while tackling environmental impacts
- Innovation, technology and skills
Other ideas in the document include ‘luggage portering’, widely used in Japan, where bags are collected from passengers before they reach the airport, and Hong Kong-stye ‘in town check-ins’.
The document also discusses how to make best use of existing capacity at airports around the country.
Transport secretary Chris Grayling announced the strategy at the launch of a £1bn programme to double the size of Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2.
He said: ‘Aviation is central to our future prosperity as we leave the European Union. Our new aviation strategy will look beyond the new runway at Heathrow and sets out a comprehensive long-term plan for UK aviation.
‘Our vision puts the passenger at the heart of what we do, but also recognises the need to address the impacts of aviation on communities and the environment.’
The Department for Transport said other issues include possible new forms of compensation for noise or designing targets for noise reduction.
It said the Government is also keen for views on how it should support and regulate emerging technologies around personal travel.
The call for evidence document says: ‘As well as changes to existing aircraft design and emerging propulsion systems, new technologies (such as drones and personal “flying taxis”) need to be encouraged to ensure maximum UK benefit while maintaining our worldleading safety and regulatory regime.’
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