Call to end ‘decades of inaction’ on aviation

The call came in London as the Government put the final touches to its publication on aviation policy, including consultation, due in the next few weeks.

The Government has accepted the need for further runway capacity in south-east England but is still opposed to an extra, third runway at the UK’s biggest airport, Heathrow.

This has led the aviation, business and union leaders – members of the Aviation Foundation – to fear for the UK’s future economic well-being, particularly as one of the alternative measures, a new Thames Estuary airport, would take years to come to fruition.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways’ parent company IAG, said: “We’ve had years of government inactivity on aviation policy and this consultation must result in a plan of action and the commitment to see it through – not another fudge.”

Colin Matthews, chief executive of airport operator BAA, whose airports include Heathrow, said: “It is time for narrow political interest to be put to one side and for our political leaders to grasp the nettle and work together.”

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway said that, in his 11 years in the role, there had been “not a single strategic aviation policy that has met the country’s needs”.

The last Labour government supported a third runway at Heathrow Airport, but this was ruled out by the coalition in May 2010, with Ministers saying they had no plans for additional runways at Stansted and Gatwick either. But Chancellor George Osborne said in the Budget the lack of south-east England runway capacity must be “confronted”.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “The Government wants aviation to grow, but ... it must be able to play its part in delivering our environmental goals and protecting the quality of life of local communities.”