Flightpath to the future: a strategic framework for the aviation sector

Document summary

The UK’s aviation sector and supporting industries such as aerospace are a real asset to the UK. They deliver important value for the UK and its citizens through providing travel opportunities, supporting business, and transporting freight. Before the COVID-19 pandemic the aviation sector contributed at least £22 billion to GDP, £14 billion from the air transport sector and a further £8 billion from aerospace, each year. Air transport directly employed nearly 150,000 people and supported up to half a million more jobs across the UK in aviation and aerospace. As the sector recovers from the pandemic, we are committed to working in partnership with all aspects of aviation to support growth and drive forward a successful recovery. This will include building back better and greener to ensure the UK delivers one of the strongest, most modern and most sustainable aviation sectors in the world. We will work with the sector to ensure UK aviation retains its international standing, continuing to lead the way globally on key issues such as decarbonisation, safety and security. We also want to ensure the sector remains fit for purpose, embracing both modernisation and innovation to bring benefits to the UK and for users. Airports have a key role to play in boosting our global connectivity and we continue to be supportive of sustainable airport growth. Our existing planning frameworks for airport growth provide a robust and balanced framework for airports that want to grow within our strict environmental criteria. That is why the Government has developed a strategic framework for the sector, looking ahead over the next ten years. This strategic framework focuses on providing clarity on the key priorities for the sector and how the Government and industry will work together to deliver them. It recognises that, whilst many of the issues considered through the Aviation 2050 consultation in 2018 remain very relevant today, it is important that we have a clear action plan for the sector. This must take into account contextual changes including the impact of the pandemic and the opportunities presented by our exit from the European Union. As well as taking into account the importance of recovery, this strategic framework also considers opportunities and challenges over the medium-term. It is focused on how the Government and the sector can work together to deliver success.