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.