IATA boss criticises UK aviation policy
10.02.11
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has criticised the Government's aviation policy and urged it to improve its global competitiveness in air transportation. The airline association said it should take a global approach to aviation and climate change, reducing taxes, changing the economic regulatory structure for airports, and developing a proper strategy to safeguard the economic benefits of aviation.
Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's director general, said in a speech in London: ‘The UK has a great tradition of leadership in aviation. But any industry can only take so many knocks before the damage is permanent. I respect the UK for its historic role but to write a successful next chapter, we must say ’basta’ [Stop]. The Government’s policy pillars of excessive taxes, inefficient airport regulation and limiting growth will destroy the UK’s proud aviation legacy.’
He noted that aviation supports about 1.5 million UK jobs along with $76 billion in economic activity, adding: ‘Aviation provides critical global connectivity to this island nation. It is a great mystery to me why the Government seems so intent on destroying its competitiveness with a policy agenda stuck in the past.'
Mr Bisignani said the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness report ranks the UK last out of 133 countries for cost competitiveness, 129th on fuel prices, and 121st on ticket taxes and airport charges. He said: ‘The economic regulatory model for airports is broken and must be urgently fixed,’ adding that Heathrow was now a ‘secondary hub.’
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