The need to work together to secure the future of the UK aviation industry
 
The UK’s aviation industry is central to our economic prosperity and should be a key driver of the growth without which we have no prospect of emerging from the dangerous economic situation we are in. It is an industry that contributes more than £11bn to UK GDP – more than 1% of the total, and supports up to 200,000 jobs directly and 600,000 indirectly across the UK. 

Yet just as the British government does not have a credible strategy for growth, neither has it yet managed to set out a credible strategy for aviation – let alone the role that it could play in our present economic situation.
 
For a crucial sector on which our economy depends, the reaction from business to the government’s decision not to set out an aviation strategy until the latter part of this parliament has ranged from incredulity to plain bemusement. The Chairman of the UK Airport Operators Association, Ed Anderson, has said that while the industry knows that the government is against – and I quote: “we are not sure yet what it is in favour of” and went on to describe “better not bigger” as an “election slogan” saying “Better not bigger doesn’t constitute a strategy.”

The government faces international criticism too. The former Chief Executive of the International Air Transport Association, Giovanni Bisignani, has been quoted as saying that the government seems "intent on destroying competitiveness with a policy agenda focused on increasing costs and limiting capacity growth". Sir David Rowlands, a former Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport has described the government’s policy as "mildly extraordinary.” And Baroness Valentine, Chief Executive of London First, said earlier this year that “government seems content for aviation policy to drift.” and – most damningly that “the Government’s aviation strategy is damaging our economy and enhancing that of our EU rivals.”
 
That is why earlier this month, in a speech to the Airport Operators Association, I made an offer to the government to put aside our previous differences and work together on a joint aviation policy for the good of the nation. We must not repeat the party political wrangling that turned the proposed third runway at Heathrow into a political football.

That is why we have accepted that any cross-party look at capacity will inevitably start with an understanding that the answer for the South East is not going to be to fall back on the proposed third runway at Heathrow. We have accepted that he local environmental impact means that this is off the agenda.

It’s time to move on and find an alternative way forward. However any cross-party look at aviation must be able to consider other options for growth, including in the South East, prioritising making best use of existing runways and airports.
 
That cross-party approach must also start with agreement that aviation must continue to curb its contribution to CO2 emissions and climate change. We will simply not achieve the goal set out in the Climate Change Act to reduce emissions by at least 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels unless aviation does more.

That is why we believe that future aviation growth must go hand in hand with a greater cut in aviation emissions than we agreed when in government. The industry's own 'Sustainable Aviation Roadmap' makes clear that, by 2050, it is possible to get absolute levels of emissions down to levels seen at the turn of the century – even as passenger numbers are projected to grow by a factor of 3. So we all agree that it is possible to do more.

It is disappointing that the government has so far failed to even to reaffirm their commitment to the existing emissions target for aviation we set in government. They should do so, as well as accepting that our share of emissions from international aviation should in future be included in the targets and Carbon Budgets set by the Committee on Climate Change. 

This should therefore not be seen as a threat but an opportunity. We need progress on a number of fronts including fuel efficiency improvements in aircraft engines and airframes; improvements in air operations, both in terms of more fuel efficient practices and air traffic management.; and the use of alternative fuels, produced sustainably.

The UK should be at the forefront of developing the new technologies that enable the aviation industry to thrive while reducing emissions.  Delivering jobs and growth. Green jobs and green growth. Enabling aviation to grow, sustainably.
 
There is a big prize for us if we can put political battles to one side and developing a long term strategy for aviation. And we must agree that we will then stick to that agreed strategy whatever the outcome of the next election. Aviation matters to our country. To our economy. To businesses and families up and down the country.

It is an industry that needs stability for the long-term. And a long-term plan that straddles parliaments and governments.  If the government is unwilling to look at how we can achieve sustainable growth, and work on a cross-party basis to deliver it, then we will not see the boost to jobs and growth that a thriving aviation sector can deliver.
 
Maria Eagle MP is Shadow Secretary of State for Transport