The abolition of Air Passenger Duty and approval of airport expansion form part of a five-point pre-election manifesto drawn up by the trade body representing UK airlines.
The British Air Transport Association’s ‘Ready for take off: our priorities for the new Parliament’ sets out the economic and social contribution of UK airlines.
The document outlines five key policy areas are where it says action is required in the next Parliament to create a more level playing field from which UK airlines can compete, grow and deliver more in the years ahead.
These include the abandoning of APD “to transform the UK’s competitive position, lower the cost of flying and deliver significant benefits to the economy”
Bata calls for new runway capacity to be given the green light without imposing pre-funding on today’s passengers, alongside further improvements to surface access to support airline growth at other airports.
Other points raised include the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuels alongside controlled development near airports to limit the number of people seriously affected by noise and the delivery of clearer consumer rights together with support for improving the experience for passengers with reduced mobility.
The UK Border Force should be provided with the resources it needs to maintain service levels aligned with the need to make further progress on visa accessibility and competitiveness.
Bata chief executive Nathan Stower said: “This is the first time that Bata has produced a manifesto setting out our priorities for the next Parliament.
“We will be using the document to campaign for policy changes and lobby politicians, officials, the regulator and other stakeholders in the months ahead on behalf of our members.
“The UK has a long and proud aviation history and our airlines are amongst the best in the world. However, our international competitors understand the benefits that aviation brings and their governments have taken strategic policy decisions to enable their industries to grow.
“The next five years are crucial for the UK industry and we will be working hard to influence public policy so that it enables our members to deliver even more for their passengers and the country in the future.”