28 January 2011
Secretary of State for Transport, Philip Hammond, has acknowledged he and airline bosses are likely to disagree on some key issues, but called on the industry to back a new Government strategy for aviation. Speaking at the British Air Transport Association’s (BATA) annual dinner, Mr Hammond said that despite not agreeing on everything, he appreciated the “forthrightness of the views” of some in the industry.
Mr Hammond also took the opportunity to praise the aviation industry as “innovative, flexible and responsive, used to reacting in real-time to a rapidly changing environment”. However, the Government also recognises the cost aviation imposes, particularly the environmental cost. The Secretary of State said the new aviation strategy must focus on how aviation can grow, but within the environmental constraints, both local and global, that we must impose.
Mr Hammond promised to engage with industry leaders with an open door, as the Government works with the industry to develop a strategy for UK aviation over the coming months. The Department for Transport (DfT) will publish a scoping document in the spring, which industry leaders will be expected to comment on, before publishing a draft strategy document in early 2012.
http://www.abtn.co.uk/news/2815300-hammond-%E2%80%9Cwe-will-not-agree%E2%80%9D