THE AIRPORT OPERATOR THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION UK AVIATION HEADS FOR NET ZERO BY 2050 SPRING 2020 2 THE AOA IS PLEASED TO WORK WITH ITS CORPORATE PARTNERS, AND GOLD AND SILVER MEMBERS Corporate Partners Gold Members Silver Members WWW.AOA.ORG.UK 3 KAREN DEE Introduction to The Airport Operator THE AIRPORT achieved in line with the commitments I am very that the UK has made on sustainability. OPERATOR This is brought into sharp focus by THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION pleased to the Court of Appeal judgement on extend a warm Heathrow’s expansion plans. AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION welcome to The AOA and its member airports are The Baroness Ruby strong supporters of the commitment McGregor-Smith CBE this edition of that Sustainable Aviation made Chair The Airport last month to achieving net zero Karen Dee carbon emissions by 2050 through a Chief Executive Operator, combination of smarter flight operations, new aircraft and engine technology, Henk van Klaveren published to coincide with our Head of Public Affairs & PR airspace modernisation, sustainable 2020 Annual Dinner. fuels and market-based measures. Jeff Bevan Our dinner, at which I look forward to The roadmap demonstrates clearly Policy & Public Affairs Officer meeting many of you, follows a very that growth across the UK can be Rupinder Pamme eventful year for the UK, with the General accommodated whilst also achieving that Policy Manager Election last December followed by our target. departure from the European Union at Patricia Page We have a big job to do to convince a Executive Assistant the end of January, the emergence of sceptical public and local authorities that & Office Manager coronavirus, which has presented UK this dramatic commitment is achievable, airports with significant operational and Richard Atkin but I am encouraged by the Transport business challenges and, most recently, Finance Executive Secretary’s description of our sector’s the collapse of Flybe. Robert Adderley commitment as “a huge step forward in Events & Member Relations Officer We took the opportunity of the creating a greener future”. You can read Tania Roca election to remind politicians of our more about the detail that lies behind Operations, Safety top five priorities. We said that the the commitment in an article that I have & Commercial Director new Government should deliver a written for this edition of our magazine. national aviation policy that supports Every part of the aviation sector is sustainable aviation growth, prioritise working hard to deliver a sustainable AIRPORT OPERATORS ASSOCIATION a new legal framework for the UK’s future and I know from discussions with 3 Birdcage Walk aviation connectivity after Brexit, support London SW1H 9JJ our members that airports across the industry in modernising UK airspace, United Kingdom country are prioritising action to ensure ensure that the UK’s border is secure that their own operations will achieve the T: +44 (0)20 7799 3171 and welcoming and review, and reform net zero goal. A good example was the E: [email protected] Air Passenger Duty to boost the UK’s announcement in January that Leeds W: www.aoa.org.uk international competitiveness. Bradford Airport plans to tear down its The meetings that I have had with existing terminal building to replace it Michael Burrell Ministers and officials at the Department with a new one that will meet the highest Editor for Transport since the election have international standards for environmental given me some optimism about progress efficiency. We have an interview with on a number of these issues. We were Chief Executive, Hywel Rees, that encouraged by the Government’s explains the “profound change” that the THE AIRPORT OPERATOR decision to launch a review of regional air new terminal will deliver for passengers MAGAZINE IS PRODUCED BY connectivity and of Air Passenger Duty, and airlines alike. Elsewhere in the but have heard nothing more, and we magazine you can read about growth await with greater than usual interest the plans at both Teesside International first Budget from the new Chancellor of Airport and Edinburgh Airport. Shimon Speigel the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak. Creative Director Here at the AOA we know that we have a Meanwhile officials at the Department huge job to do to represent the interests Natalia Lacerda for Transport have continued to work on Graphic Designer of all of our airports to Government the development of the Government’s and to Parliament. We will continue to GENIUM Aviation Strategy. In our discussions make the case that a flourishing and Studio 27 on this we have emphasised the environmentally responsible aviation Quadrant Business Centre importance of the Government setting sector will be a vital and essential enabler 135 Salusbury Road a clear strategic overall direction. We of prosperity for global Britain and for London NW6 6RJ would like to see a very clear statement businesses and communities across the from Ministers that they believe T: +44 (0)20 7089 2622 country. E: [email protected] aviation growth can and should be W: www.geniumcreative.com accommodated, providing that it is Karen Dee, Chief Executive 4 AOA CHIEF EXECUTIVE, KAREN DEE, DESCRIBES HOW UK AVIATION LEADERS MADE A WORLD-FIRST COMMITMENT TO NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050 On 4 February, leaders of the UK aviation industry, including many airport CEOs, came together to commit our industry to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. WWW.AOA.ORG.UK 5 his is a world-first: nowhere else has the whole of the Tindustry – airlines, aerospace Aviation must play manufacturers, airports and air navigation service providers – come its full part in helping together to make such a clear the UK deliver a net commitment. Not only is there a commitment, but there is also the zero future, while latest Decarbonisation Road-Map that was launched at the event, at the same time organised by Sustainable Aviation enabling aviation to (SA), which sets out how the industry will realise this commitment. continue to deliver As the world changes, so have the benefits of global expectations of aviation around DECARBONISATION connectivity that have ROAD-MAP: A PATH our ability to meet global carbon TO NET ZERO targets. Aviation must play its full been such a catalyst for A plan to decarbonise UK aviation part in helping the UK deliver a net zero future, while at the same prosperity. sustainableaviation.co.uk time enabling aviation to continue to deliver the benefits of global connectivity that have been such a crucial to reduce emissions from Airspace modernisation will offer catalyst for prosperity. The enemy is existing fleets. In the longer-term, benefits through more direct routes, carbon, not air travel. as hybrid and electric aircraft limiting or even eliminating airborne start operating on shorter routes, holding of aircraft and create The three main ways of reducing these fuels will play a crucial role opportunities for respite from noise emissions are focused on new engine in reducing emissions for long-haul for communities. To achieve this, and aircraft technology (including flights. These fuels exist today, work Government must take a leadership hybrid and electric propulsion), the in existing gas-turbine engines and role and provide the right policy and use of sustainable fuels and airspace could reduce UK aviation emissions regulatory framework to enable the modernisation. Alongside that will sit in 2050 by at least 30%. Achieving industry to deliver modernisation. carbon offsetting of the remaining this will require a positive policy emissions by 2050, through environment, but if we get this right, Net zero aviation will not happen market-based measures. Emerging the UK could be a world leader in overnight, but we have set out technologies, such as carbon capture sustainable aviation fuels. our commitment as an industry and storage may also have a role to to achieving it. It is a credible play. Alongside support for sustainable and realistic target and if we fuels, we must continue to focus on work together as an industry, in UK aviation has already made great the future technologies. Through partnership with Government, we strides– for example, between 2010 the Aerospace Growth Partnership can create a thriving aviation sector and 2016 passenger numbers in the (AGP) and the Aerospace Technology compatible with our global climate UK grew by more than 25%, while Institute (ATI), the aerospace ambitions. total emissions only grew by under manufacturers are already investing 5%. Overall, emissions continue to be in innovation and research, including below 2005 levels, thanks to cleaner- the hybrid electric and fully electric burning aircraft, improved operations aircraft. Alongside upgrades to UK aviation has and improved air traffic management. aircraft already in operation, the Road-Map shows that we can achieve already made great But we must go further and faster further emissions reductions of 24% strides– for example, to achieve net zero by 2050, while through this. The Government needs meeting the expected growth in to continue to support this aerospace between 2010 and 2016 demand from passengers. SA’s R&D, through the AGP and increased Decarbonisation Road-Map sets out investment through the ATI. passenger numbers in how we can achieve this: through the UK grew by more a combination of measures and in Lastly, upgrading our airspace will collaboration with Government. have an important role to play, than 25%, while total including through the potential In the short to medium term, it has to reduce noise impacts emissions only grew by sustainable aviation fuels will be for communities near airports. under 5%. THE AIRPORT OPERATOR SPRING 2020 6 BRISTOL AND STANSTED PASSENGER GROWTH PLANS BLOCKED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES Planning applications by Bristol and Stansted airports to allow them to serve more passengers have been blocked by their local authorities.