Plea to promote airport expansion

Responding to a new report warning of a looming capacity crunch across the continent, the trade body hit out at politicians for failing to take decisions to expand airport capacity.

Darren Caplan, chief executive of the association, said: “Demand for air travel will soon outweigh the supply in many parts of the continent, unless urgent action is taken by political decision makers to alleviate the problem.

“In the UK, for example, airports throughout the country are either full up already or face reaching capacity within the next 20-30 years – the UK government needs to respond to this challenge with unashamedly pro-aviation policies that promote growth in the sector and allow airports who wish to expand the opportunity to do so.

“Aviation in the UK contributes around £50bn GDP, a million jobs, and over £8bn tax revenues. It is of vital strategic importance.”