Responding to the publication of the Final Report of the Sir Howard Davies Airports Commission, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association (AOA), the trade body representing over 50 UK airports, said:
“The UK needs to compete in both established and emerging markets. This requires excellent aviation connectivity right across the country, ensuring the UK has both vibrant point to point airports and world class hub capacity. The AOA supports all airports that wish to grow and believes in making best use of existing capacity at UK airports.
“The AOA welcomes the completion of the Airports Commission’s work and supports the assertion it has already made in its Interim Report regarding the need for both airport expansion and making better use out of existing capacity. Now that the Commission has published its Final Report, the Government should respond swiftly to maintain momentum, remove uncertainty and ensure the UK gets the additional capacity it so vitally needs as soon as possible.”
Earlier this week, the AOA published a new poll carried out by ComRes which found that over three quarters (74%) of Members of Parliament agree that the Government should commit to acting on the recommendations of the report “as soon” as they are delivered, with 38% “strongly agreeing” with this statement.
Support was strong among both Conservative and Labour MPs, with 82% of Conservatives agreeing (39% strongly) that the Government should act on the recommendations, compared to 73% of Labour MPs (43% of whom strongly agree).
ComRes interviewed 127 MPs online and by paper self-completion questionnaire between 21st May and 25th June 2015. Data were weighted to reflect the exact composition of the House of Commons in terms of party representation and regional constituency distribution. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. To view the results in full, please visit the ComRes website at http://www.comres.co.uk/.
View Airports Commission Final Report.
Click here for our Airports Commission Final Report Briefing, 1 July 2015
Click here for Airports Commission Final Report¦ Ministerial Statement and debate
