Visiting Heathrow Airport

Last week I visited Heathrow Airport to see Virgin Atlantic’s operations. It was a good opportunity to hear from staff and get a feel for how they manage the huge logistical challenges of running a major airline.

While the UK has the third-largest aviation sector in the world, in an increasingly competitive, post-Brexit, world, it is vitally important to our national interest that we ensure the industry is able to continue to thrive.

The government have announced that they would like to see a third runway at an expanded Heathrow Airport and plans for this are expected from the airport soon. While there is an economic case to expand Heathrow, getting to that point will be incredibly complex and expensive, and it will have profound consequences for many people.

We are years away from actually seeing an operating third runway, so in the meantime it is vital that the government rethinks its aviation strategy and considers how it can support the airlines which create jobs and tax receipts to the Exchequer.

One of the most straightforward ways would be to reconsider the hugely damaging and ideological tax increases to Air Passenger Duty, thereby reducing the costs of travel for millions and incentivising economic growth.

Many thanks to Graeme and Georgie at Virgin for organising the visit in support of my duties as Shadow Transport Secretary.