Climate bid does not have to hurt aviation

The UK airline community has been clear from the start the planned cut and subsequent abolition of air departure tax will have a positive impact on Scotland.

It will–we believe–make the country’s airports a more attractive place for airlines to add capacity, delivering new routes and services, and contributing to major improve - ments in domestic and international connectivity.

An Airlines UK report found last year that by levying Europe’ s highest rate of tax on aviation, the UK is losing out on around 65 new direct routes, of which over 20 impact on Scottish airports.

That said, we have always been consistent in our view that grow th in aviation can and must go hand in hand with action to cut global CO2 emissions.

As an industry we are acutely aware that without action taken now and well into the future, aviation and transport more generally will be a major reason why the UK will be unable to meet its climate change commitments.

The past few years have seen some impressive achievements that are worth celebrating. Since 2010, passenger numbers across commercial aviation have increased by 27 per cent whilst emissions have remained flat.

This has been achieved largely through the introduction of over 500 cleaner, quieter aircraft. On top of this, sustainable aviation fuels are now being developed at scale, with BA and Virgin Atlantic leading the way. And from next year the new internationally agreed carbon offsetting scheme, signed by over 190 countries worldwide, will kick in.

All of this means the industry is confident it can continue to de-couple growth in aviation from growth in emissions.

Of course, it is only right that we are challenged on our progress.

But we must be careful that in seeking to address the climate challenge, we do not actively take decisions that will be contrary to Scotland’s long-term economic and social prospects.

Tim Alderslade is chief executive at Airlines UK