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Aviation Bill - Clause 1
09 September 2026
Lead MP
Heidi Alexander
Debate Type
Bill Debate
Tags
No tags
Other Contributors: 36
At a Glance
Heidi Alexander raised concerns about aviation bill - clause 1 in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Bill aims to restore the Government's power to regulate civil aviation, bolster passenger rights, modernise airspace, and improve safety. It addresses recent disruptions and seeks to ensure robust systems for aviation, including independent reviews, consumer protection, and modernisation of airspace infrastructure. The Bill also seeks to streamline regulatory processes for airport slots and aviation safety, ensuring that UK airspace remains among the safest in the world while allowing for innovation and growth.
Expressed gratitude for the Secretary of State's update on the NATS outage and requested that the review ensure such disruptions never happen again.
Asked the Secretary of State to make a statement the following day to allow Members to ask questions about the serious matter of the NATS outage.
Sought a meeting with the Minister to discuss cabin air quality and fume events in aircraft cabins, requesting regulation and scrutiny of such events.
Confirmed the success of Glasgow International Airport in attracting new routes and asked the Minister to ensure that such expansion is not hindered by slow regulatory frameworks.
Expressed concern about noise and emissions from Heathrow airport and asked whether airspace modernisation would reduce these issues and allow local people to have a say.
Asked the Minister to comment on the recent change in the height at which noise is considered an important factor, expressing concern over the impact on constituents and questioning the lack of meaningful consultation.
Asked the Minister to ensure that the Scottish airspace modernisation programme remains a priority for NATS.
Asked for clarification on the proposed new section 61G, inquiring about the publication of a document setting out priorities and objectives for the Civil Aviation Authority.
Keir Mather
SNP
Dunbartonshire East
Keir Mather interjected to indicate dissent regarding the handling of urgent questions, expressing disagreement with the current situation.
Vikki Slade
Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Vikki Slade intervened to highlight the rise in airport drop-off charges in Bournemouth and the lack of public transport alternatives, arguing that such charges should be restricted or banned until viable alternatives are provided for all passengers.
Andrew Snowden
Con
North East Fife
Andrew Snowden supported Holden's position, expressing concern over the tax increases and regulatory pressures faced by airports, particularly in relation to reopening routes and starting new ones at Blackpool airport.
Nusrat Ghani
Con
Wealden
Nusrat Ghani (Wealden) (Conservative) emphasised that government statements and urgent questions are within the prerogative of the Government and the Speaker, and should not be speculated upon by Members inside or outside the Chamber.
Ruth Cadbury
Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
Ruth Cadbury supports the Bill for its improvements in passenger rights and protections for disabled passengers but calls for more comprehensive measures, including addressing the lack of resilience in the air traffic control system, airport drop-off charges, and better public transport connectivity. She also highlights the need for staff safety measures and noise mitigation enforcement.
Andrew Cooper
Lab
Stockport
Cooper supports the Bill, highlighting its importance for employment and economic growth in his constituency. He emphasises the need for facilities that support disabled passengers and advocates for the removal of liability limits for lost or damaged mobility aids. Cooper also raises concerns about drop-off charges and their impact on passengers, especially those with disabilities. He supports airspace modernisation and increased capacity but questions the availability of air traffic controllers to support growth.
Luke Taylor
Con
Esher and Walton
Mr. Taylor supports the amendment to hold NATS responsible for compensation during disruptions, and calls for measures to address decarbonisation, infrastructure modernisation, and passenger rights. He emphasises the need for community involvement and sustainable development in these areas. He highlights the importance of sustainable aviation fuels, the need for technological innovation, and the importance of airspace modernisation to reduce noise and emissions.
Amanda Hack
Con
East Midlands
I welcome the Bill’s measures on consultation and customer rights, particularly for East Midlands airport. However, I am concerned about the fairness and safety of airport parking and drop-off systems, which can be dangerous for passengers and airport workers. I also support the Government's commitment to strengthening passenger protections, including accessibility issues and food allergies. I request an update on the infrastructure around airports and the timetable for consultation on accessibility issues from the Minister.
Alison Taylor
Lab
Glasgow North
I agree with my hon. Friend that excessive drop-off charges can lead to dangerous behaviour around airports. I have observed similar issues at Glasgow international airport, where passengers are being dropped off in lanes designated for one-way traffic, leading to potential safety risks.
Harlow
Christopher Vince agrees that the disruption caused by the collapse of the NATS system has affected both travellers and those working at the airport, highlighting the impact on Stansted airport in his constituency.
Tim Roca
Con
Macclesfield
Emphasises the benefits of the Bill for consumer rights in aviation, including compensation for damaged or lost accessibility equipment and reforms to airspace management. Highlights concerns about airport drop-off charges, advocating for clearer signage and a longer payment period to avoid punitive fines.
Supports the idea of drop-off fines but argues that they should not apply where there are not good transport links to the airport. This is seen as unfair in such cases.
Suggests that if drop-off charges are to be increased, they should only be in line with inflation to avoid disproportionate increases.
John Milne
Lab
Horsham
John Milne supports the introduction of an aviation ombudsman to address the public’s concerns regarding the lack of transparency and fairness in the process of airspace modernisation and flightpath changes. He cites the example of Gatwick Airport, where proposed changes would increase noise pollution and raises concerns about the conflict of interest involved. He also highlights the need for an independent body to oversee regulatory decisions and ensure the voice of the consumer is heard, as dissatisfaction with CAA decisions cannot be pursued through existing mechanisms.
Hayes and Harlington
Mr McDonnell emphasises the need for greater accountability in the CAA's decision-making processes, particularly in relation to flight paths and noise levels. He highlights the lack of thorough and adequate consultation processes and the need for a more detailed directive from the Secretary of State to the CAA, to ensure that decisions are made with the health and well-being of communities in mind.
Luke Taylor
Con
Horsham
Mr Taylor interjects to emphasise the need for a thorough investigation into the recent failure at Heathrow and highlights the previous 37 actions that should have been completed to resolve the incident.
Noah Law
Lab
Birmingham Selly Oak
Mr Law interjects to acknowledge the need for independent oversight but also recognises the importance of the CAA's role in consumer protection, particularly in the case of a constituent whose issue was resolved effectively.
Noah Law
Con
Tregaron
Law welcomes the steps to improve accessibility and protections for disabled passengers and to bolster consumer protections, but raises concerns about compliance costs for small regional airports. He calls for support to improve passenger experience and integrated transport connectivity.
Samantha Dixon
Con
Chester North and Neston
Dixon supports the Bill, highlighting the importance of improving protections for air passengers, protecting the consumer, and ensuring price transparency. She also welcomes attention to disabled passengers’ rights and the importance of securing the aviation sector for economic growth.
Danny Beales
Con
Hillingdon
Danny Beales supports the Aviation Bill, appreciating its consumer protection measures and the removal of the cap on baggage, specialist equipment, and wheelchairs. He emphasises the need for robust enforcement powers and the importance of addressing airspace modernisation while ensuring proper consultation. Beales also advocates for tackling abusive behaviour towards air workers and supports provisions to increase transparency regarding drop-off charges at airports.
Dunbartonshire East
Strathern supports the measures in the Bill, particularly the removal of the compensation cap for airline users with additional needs. He highlights the importance of addressing accessibility issues faced by such passengers and advocates for greater compensation for losses of mobility equipment. He also emphasises the need to ensure airlines do not use the removal of the cap as an excuse to step back from providing services to those with accessibility needs. Strathern further welcomes the Government’s commitment to modernising flight paths and reducing disruption and environmental impact on communities around airports. He also encourages the Government to consider how to incentivise public transport use to Luton airport to reduce traffic and emissions. Additionally, he raises concerns about the increasing abuse of airline staff and calls for action to ensure a safe and secure workplace for aviation workers.
Alison Griffiths
Lab
Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
Griffiths supports the amendment and criticises the Government for not addressing the soaring costs of airport drop-off charges, which disproportionately affect elderly and disabled passengers. She urges the Government to keep clause 7 in the Bill to prevent airports from charging excessive fees that discourage car usage and penalize drivers.
Keir Mather
Con
N/A
Mather defends the Government's position on the Bill, stating that it aims to modernize the regulatory framework for aviation. He acknowledges the disruption caused by the air traffic control fault but dismisses concerns about a six-month timeframe for reporting incidents, arguing it is a significant improvement over previous delays. He also addresses questions raised by opposition members regarding the necessity of a statement and the timeframe for reporting.
Judith Cummins
Lab
Bradford South
Cummins emphasises the need for more sustainable travel options at airports and supports the idea of subsidizing public transport to encourage modal shift. She raises concerns about the impact of drop-off charges on the elderly and disabled, advocating for the inclusion of provisions to protect these groups.
Hitchin and Harpenden
Strathern suggests that subsidies for public transport could be a positive way to encourage sustainable travel to airports. He highlights the importance of providing accessible and affordable transport options for all airport users, particularly during peak travel periods.
Scott Arthur
Con
North Wiltshire
Arthur emphasises that drop-off charges should not apply to blue badge holders and argues that airports should be easy for disabled individuals to access. He supports the idea of a review to address the issue of drop-off charges and their impact on disabled passengers.
Peter Swallow
Lab
Bolton South East
Swallow raises concerns about the need for improved rail links to support airport expansion. He urges the Government to ensure that the draft Heathrow expansion national policy statement is strong enough to guarantee the necessary infrastructure for a third runway, including improved rail connections.
Portsmouth South
Vince inquires about the challenges posed by extreme weather events and the potential impact on aviation infrastructure. He asks the Minister to consider the mitigation of these issues, particularly in relation to the recent fire at an electricity substation at Heathrow.
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