This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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30 year vision for air transport
23/07/2002
A major consultation exercise seeking views on how aviation services should develop in Scotland over the next 30 years was launched today.
Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling and Scottish Executive Transport Minister Iain Gray said the consultation was needed in the face of growing demand for air travel.
It is part of a nationwide exercise that covers all regions and devolved administrations to help the government develop its aviation policy for the whole of the UK up to the year 2030.
Among the key issues in Scotland on which the Government is seeking views are:
- is there sufficient capacity at Scottish airports?
- should a new runway be built, or safeguarded for, at Glasgow or Edinburgh airports?
- should there be more flights from Scottish airports to London, either for direct access or for access to onward flights?
- should Scotland try to develop a regional hub airport and if so where?
- how should services to and from the Highlands and Islands be developed?
- could environmental impacts, such as noise and air quality, be mitigated or reduced?
- which surface access schemes should be regarded as the key schemes for improving access to Scotland's airports?
The Executive is currently exploring the options for rail links to both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports. The Transport Delivery Report launched earlier this year identified rail links to both airports as key priorities and progress on these will be published shortly.
Announcing the consultation in a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Darling said;
"We have built the fourth largest economy in the world on our ability to trade. Air travel is crucial to our expanding economy and we need to plan for the future. There has been a sixfold increase in air travel since 1970. Now half the population flies at least once a year and demand is expected to continue to grow. One third of all UK goods exported go by air.
"Providing a framework for sustainable development for the next thirty years and beyond is essential. We need to address how we should respond to the continued growth in demand for air travel; how much additional airport provision is needed; and where it should be located. Just as importantly we need to deal with the environmental impact of expansion and its effects on the people living close to airports.
"In Scotland over the last ten years, the number of people using the main Scottish airports has doubled to 16 million passengers a year. We expect continued growth as the Scottish economy expands.
"The consultation paper looks at making the most out of existing capacity. It asks where new capacity should be situated, whether it should be concentrated at one or two key airports or be spread across all Scottish airports. It asks what scope there is develop Glasgow or Edinburgh as a hub airport for Scotland attracting new services to a wider range of destinations. The Scottish Executive is publishing tomorrow a progress report on proposals to provide rail links to both these airports.
"Our consultation looks at other issues of vital concern in Scotland, like maintaining access to London and the lifeline air links to the Highlands and Islands".
Helen Liddell, Secretary of State for Scotland, said:
"All of Scotland now has the opportunity to contribute to the long-term development of one of our most important infrastructure issues. I hope that businesses, air travellers, aviation industry workers, and all of us affected by air transport in Scotland, will add a strong Scottish input into this vital debate."
Iain Gray said:
"Increasing demand for air travel means that there are significant opportunities for all of Scotland's airports to develop and strengthen, and for the people of Scotland to benefit.
"I am keen to ensure that all airports in Scotland play a full role in a growing aviation market and that all airports are encouraged to play to their strengths.
"This consultation will help us to examine all the options and use our influence to ensure that Scotland's air services bring maximum benefits to the economy at minimum environmental cost.
"Air services are fundamental to economic and social activities in the remote areas of Scotland, and maintaining lifeline services to these areas remains a commitment in the consultation.
"None of the current services to remote areas could operate without the airport infrastructure put in place by the Executive funded Highlands & Islands Airports Limited (HIAL). The Executive will continue to actively encourage those services to these areas that bring the greatest economic and social gains.
"The Executive's track record in promoting new services is good and we will continue to look to encourage new direct air services which provide benefits to Scottish business and inbound tourism.
"This is a genuine consultation and I'm keen to seek views of industry, local communities and other key stakeholders on how services should develop in Scotland, and in the UK over the next 30 years."
The deadline for responses to the consultation is November 30th.
Similar consultations have been launched in the following regions and territories of the UK: North of England, South East, South West, Midlands and Wales. Northern Ireland's consultation will follow in August.
Information about the consultation process and copies of all the consultation documents and some main background documents are available at www.airconsult.gov.uk.
The telephone number for public enquiries about the consultation is 0845 100 5554.