The UK government has set out its plans for the future of the country’s aviation, which it says will “improve the flying experience for passengers at every stage of their journey”.
The document outlines measures to help passengers make an informed choice, including more transparency on additional costs involved with purchasing a ticket.
It also contains details of how the government plans to work with the industry to improve accessibility at airports and on aircraft, as well as to tackle the issue of “disruptive passengers”.
The Department for Transport also wants to improve the compensation scheme for customers and ensure passengers are properly informed about the rights in the event of an incident. It says it wants to explore options for enforcing such regulations.
The strategy covers proposals to make UK aviation more environmentally friendly, including measures to tackle issues of noise, greenhouse gas emissions and airspace congestion. These include the introduction of new noise targets, more noise controls at airports and improved compensation for people living near airports, as well as reducing the usage of single-use plastics and improving recycling rates.
The government says it will examine current agreements between the UK and other countries to operate flights, identify opportunities to improve connectivity and open new routes for overseas investment.
Other proposals focus on a review of UK airports’ take-off and landing slots, which the government says is aimed at promoting competition and transparency to offer consumers more choice.
The proposals contained within the document will be open for a new round of consultation this autumn, with the final strategy due for publication in early 2019.
Aviation minister Baroness Sugg commented: “Working with industry, we want to improve the flying experience from booking to arrival, ensuring passengers are truly at the heart of the aviation sector.
“This demonstrates our commitment to creating a transport system which works for passengers as we build a Britain fit for the future.”
Read the full strategy document here.