Airports Commission

1. Airports Commission Process

2. Discussion Paper on Utilisation of the UK’s Existing Airport Capacity

3. Discussion

Stephen Howe (Stephen.Howe@airports.gsi.gov.uk)

Our Remit

• Provide an Interim Report to the Government no later than end of 2013 setting out:

• assessment of the need for additional capacity;

• recommendations for immediate actions to improve the use of existing capacity; and

• short-list of potential expansion options.

• The Commission will then publish a final report in the summer of 2015 with:

• recommendations for the optimum approach to meeting the UK’s international connectivity needs;

• recommendations for ensuring that the needs are met as expeditiously as possible.

Open and consultative approach

Discussion Paper on UK Airports

• Connectivity at regional airports

• Market trends at regional airports

• Options to support regional airports

• Other airports in London and the South East

Call for evidence.

Domestic connectivity: links into Londonfrom regional airports have declined –

a number of factors could be at play

Route networks: a mixed picture

Connectivity trends: is the type of traffic served by regional airports changing?

Market trends: smaller airports struggle to bring in non-aeronautical revenue

in comparison to larger airports

Airline behaviour

Market trends during the recession

Consolidation?

Options to support or bolster the sector: understand the opportunities and risks

of recent developments

• Recent changes to EU state aid guidelines:

• Applications will now also be allowed for start-up aid for from regional airports with fewer than 5 million passengers per year.

• If airports have <3 million passengers per year, only new EU routes can be supported.

• EU state aid guidelines state that for airports with between 3 million and 5 million passengers per year, start-up aid can only be provided in exceptional cases.

• DfT consultating this summer on how to interpret these guidelines; no desire to distort market – market principles should lead.

• Recent changes to APD long haul bands:• How are airlines responding?

Options to support or bolster the sector: further opportunities

Surface Access options

Planning and Policy

framework

Local Enterprise

Zones

Targeted international

tourism

Airports Commission

1. Airports Commission Process

2. Discussion Paper on Utilisation of the UK’s Existing Airport Capacity

3. Discussion

Stephen Howe (Stephen.Howe@airports.gsi.gov.uk)