An assessment of UK Government aviation policies and their implications

Abstract

The aviation industry has shown a consistently high level of growth over the last 60 years. Despite a forecast reduction in the growth rate, the current trend is above the forecast. The Aviation White Paper, published in 2003, set the framework for the expansion of most of the airports in the UK. Many of its proposals were and still are contentious but nevertheless the public demand for air travel takes little account of the opposition. This paper looks at the history of aviation policies, their successes and failures, and identifies a possible need to refresh the debate as to whether existing levels of growth are sustainable.