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UK launches aviation policy consultation


BIFA urges all Members to respond to the government’s aviation policy consultation as the UK prepares its long- term aviation policy running through to 2050


The UK government has launched its consultation into the long-term future of UK aviation up to 2050. The government is seeking industry input into developing its strategy, with the consultation period lasting until 11 April 2020. The full text of the consultation document, entitled ‘Aviation 2050 – the future of UK aviation’, can be viewed at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/govern ment/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data /file/765253/aviation-2050-web.pdf Ever since Harold Wilson’s ‘White Heat of


Technology’ speech in the early 1960s, successive governments have liked to appear modern by latching on to the latest technology and quoting the latest buzzwords, and to nobody’s surprise the word ‘digitalisation’ figures prominently in the document. The report says: “Working alongside industry, the


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government has set up the Digital Cargo UK Board to facilitate work to improve the digitalisation of the sector, for example with increased uptake of electronic air waybills (eAWB).”


Definitions It is important that there is a very clear definition of the role of this board and what digitalisation actually means. In all probability, no government funding will be made available, leaving the private sector responsible to fund the process. The reference to eAWB is interesting and an oversimplification, as the introduction of digital documentation has been a slow and fragmented process lasting many years. For good and well-understood reasons, many


forwarders have not embraced the eAWB, seeing little advantage in dispensing with one


paper document when a document pouch still has to be prepared and provided to the carrier. Within the 197-page consultation report, only


two pages are devoted to “supporting freight”. It is to be welcomed that the importance of our sector, relative to international trade and providing jobs, is identified, including in areas where there is no airport. The document highlights that 8.6% of the gross value added (GVA) to the Welsh economy is directly attributable to air cargo.


Definitions The consultation document acknowledges the importance of the UK’s main airports and that all the major airports have announced expansion plans, the largest being at London Heathrow. However, it is notable that within the cargo section the report focuses rather too much on the needs of the fast parcel operators and not the wider freight forwarding community. Also, it is interesting that whilst there are


suggestions as how to increase gender diversity and improve training, at a very early stage it seems to suggest that there should be no easement of restrictions on night flights, despite recognising their importance. BIFA would encourage all Members to


respond to this consultation because the government will base its air strategy for the period up to 2050, at least to some degree, upon the responses it receives.


February 2019


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