House of Commons · Westminster Hall
07 July 2021 · 8 other contributors · 12,397 words
Opened by Steve Double Con St Austell and Newquay
Responding minister: Robert Courts
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Steve Double raised concerns about regional airports in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Steve Double urges the Government to provide ongoing support to keep regional airports open and viable, especially through measures such as cutting domestic air passenger duty (APD) and expanding public service obligation routes. He calls for a decision on APD reduction with urgency.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Steve Double is concerned about the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK aviation sector. He highlighted that passenger levels at UK airports in summer 2020 were their lowest since 1975, with a decline of 94% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2019. The economic output for the air transport sector reduced by 89% between February and March 2020, leaving many regional airports financially distressed.
Emphasised the importance of East Midlands airport to the regional economy, noting its role in freight and passenger travel. Highlighted the impact of the pandemic on the airport's income and called for support from the Transport Secretary to help revive the sector.
Catherine McKinnell highlighted the importance of regional airports, particularly Newcastle International airport in her constituency. She mentioned that between April and December 2020, passenger numbers at UK airports were down by 89.3% year on year. She criticised the lack of bespoke financial support from the Government for covering increased costs due to regulatory interventions and called for an aviation recovery plan linked to climate goals.
Cornwall airport Newquay is a vital part of Cornwall's transport and economic infrastructure, providing national and international connectivity. Before the pandemic, it employed over 600 people and supported international trade. The aviation sector has been hugely affected by the pandemic, leading to significant job losses and impacting tourism in Cornwall. Aviation must become environmentally sustainable through decarbonisation, sustainable fuels, and electric flight, with UK companies encouraged to lead on this technology development.
The MP highlighted the importance of regional airports to regional connectivity and economic growth, noting that Glasgow airport is operating at just 10% capacity. He mentioned significant job losses and the need for continued furlough support beyond September. The MP also criticized the lack of transparency in the traffic light system decision-making process and called for a bespoke aviation recovery package. He asked when the regional air connectivity review would be published, highlighting the Minister's previous argument in favour of regional air connectivity.
Jamie Stone expressed concerns about the future of Wick airport in Caithness, crucial for economic regeneration after Dounreay's decommissioning. He highlighted the importance of a public service obligation to ensure the airport's sustainability and proposed a meeting with ministers to discuss joint funding. He also noted that increasing passenger flow at regional airports like Wick is beneficial for national and local economies.
Jim Shannon highlighted the severe impact of the aviation crisis on Northern Ireland, noting that passenger numbers were down by 86.1% in Q4 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels. He called for continued support from the Government beyond September, including extending furlough schemes and financial aid for operational costs.
John Martin McDonnell called for a new aviation strategy addressing the changing patterns of air travel, environmental impact, and the need to level up regional economies. He emphasized that Heathrow no longer requires expansion as passengers prefer point-to-point flights. McDonnell also advocated for continued support for communities dependent on aviation during recovery from the pandemic.
He discussed the importance of regional airports, highlighting issues such as job losses and economic impacts. He mentioned that over 19,000 BA staff are still on furlough and warned about the need for a sector-specific deal to support the aviation industry. He also criticised the amber list policy and its uneven implementation.
Government Response
Robert CourtsIt is a real pleasure and honour to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for St Austell and Newquay (Steve Double) for securing this important debate. He and I have spoken on many occasions—not just about his vital airport, but about regional connectivity in general. The Government entirely understand and recognise the severe economic impact that the covid-19 pandemic has had on regional airports. They are critical regional and national infrastructure, and we continue to work to understand the industry and to see how it can be best supported at this time. Newquay airport is vital for connections to the south-western corner of our nation. It connects to nine UK airports, the Isles of Scilly, Faro and Alicante. The £7.8 million provided by the Cabinet Office for infrastructure improvements for the G7 enabled the efficient handling of air traffic and the aircraft that were required for the summit. I am pleased that the works will also ensure that the summit leaves a long-term economic legacy at Newquay airport. Prior to the pandemic, the aviation sector directly contributed at least £22 billion to GDP each year and supported half a million jobs in the UK. Maintaining a strong, privately operated and competitive aviation industry is vital to our economy. It supports a truly global Britain and the communities that surround airports. The importance of this regional aviation network has been seen as never before during the covid crisis. Although it has clearly impacted regional airports across the UK, and the airlines that operate out of them, the sector has continued to perform well and has adapted despite the challenges. We continue jointly to fund public service obligation routes from, for example, Londonderry and Dundee into London, protecting air connectivity from some of the most far-flung parts of the UK. We will consider whether there are further opportunities to utilise PSOs alongside other policy measures that look towards meeting our ongoing regional-connectivity and levelling-up objectives. The Government have introduced a wide range of measures to support the decarbonisation of the aviation sector, including a £15 million competition to support the UK production of sustainable aviation fuels—SAF—and the introduction of the UK's emissions trading scheme, which is 5% tougher than the EU equivalent, and covers all domestic and UK to European economic area flights. In June, we launched the first round of the £3 million zero emission flight infrastructure competition, supporting the development of the infrastructure that is required to aid electric and hydrogen aircraft. That will help to build the UK airports and airfields of the future. The Government are always keen to engage with aviation stakeholders to find ways to ensure the swift recovery of the sector.