The aviation industry needs to engage with government beyond the Department for Transport, according to Airlines UK chief executive Tim Alderslade.
Speaking at a recent Airlines UK conference in London, he said: “Covid was a test of how we should be engaging with government. The way the industry worked with [DfT] ministers was good. But the times we went to other government departments we were told ‘Speak to the DfT’.
“We have to get other departments to think about aviation – the Treasury, the office of Number 10, the Department for Business [BEIS]. We need the Treasury, Number 10 and BEIS to see aviation as a strategic asset.”
However, he suggested the sector refrain from presenting a list of demands, saying: “We need to be realistic. We’re 18 months from a general election. We have cross‑sector support for modernising airspace. We need to make sure they do that. We need to ensure the Jet Zero agenda and support mechanisms required.”
He warned: “Aviation is a difficult sector to decarbonise. Other sectors will decarbonise earlier. We’re in danger of being singled out.
“If there is one thing we achieve in the next couple of years it has to be on sustainability.”