UK airports are calling for improved transport links from major cities to boost the economy and deliver huge job creation.
With speculation mounting that infrastructure investment will be a central theme of the government’s Autumn Statement on Wednesday, a report by the Airport Operators Association (AOA) shows the economic benefits from reducing journey times to airports.
The association’s report Capital Economics shows that a 5 per cent improvement in average journey times could deliver a 2.7 per cent increase in passenger numbers, generating an additional £1.9 billion for the UK economy and supporting an extra 32,000 jobs.
“Today’s report by the Airport Operators Association shows that making it easier for more people to travel to and from airports will enable aviation to deliver more for the UK economy, creating tens of thousands of jobs in the process,” said AOA chief executive Darren Caplan.
“Investing in better transport infrastructure around airports improves the passenger experience and enables the UK to show that it is open for business and keen to welcome visitors, making it easier for them to reach their final destinations.”
The AOA has also laid out its aviation strategy it wants the government to adopt:
- Assess the level of transport infrastructure connecting UK airports and identify where there are gaps in present and future demand
- Ensure rail capacity assessments and Highways Agency route studies include airport access, looking particularly at whether road and rail capacity at individual airports matches Government’s passenger growth forecasts for that airport
- Set out, with Network Rail and the Highways Agency, how it will make decisions as to which surface access projects at airports will be prioritised in the Government’s infrastructure plans
Caplan added: “The Government needs to make clear that linking air connectivity with surface transport connectivity is crucial for the success of the UK economy.
“It can do this through better assessing the level of transport infrastructure connecting UK airports, identifying where there are gaps in present and future demand.”