Airport Operators Association response to Liberal Democrats vote on airport expansion

Responding to today’s vote on airport expansion at the Liberal Democrats conference in Glasgow, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, the trade body for UK airports, said:

• “The AOA is naturally disappointed that the Liberal Democrats pre-manifesto rules out airport expansion. Aviation is crucial to UK plc, supporting 1 million jobs, £50 billion in GDP and £8 billion in Treasury revenues, and the party’s position fails to realise the economic and connectivity benefits a growing aviation sector can deliver for UK plc, nor the enormous strides the industry is taking to deal with its carbon and noise impacts.
• “We continue to urge the Airports Commission to stick to its timetable, report soon after the General Election next year, and for the political parties to act on its recommendations, when published.”