The Plane Truth - Introduction

Introduction - Economy - Environment

We are flying more often to more destinations than ever before and air transport is growing at such a rate that it threatens our local and global environment.

How fast is air transport growing?

Air transport is the fastest growing sector of transport, with an annual growth rate of about 5%. In 2000 the number of passengers using UK airports was 181 million (each arrival or departure is counted as one passenger). The government is currently forecasting an increase of passengers by 2030 to 501m, an increase of 180% or 3.5% pa (per annum).

The majority of UK flights are scheduled passenger flights with charters representing some 20%. Only about 22% of passengers are business, the rest being mainly tourist/holidays and other personal trips such as study. These proportions are forecast to remain roughly the same in 2030. About 10% of trips are domestic, i.e. within the UK.

By 2020 every airport in the UK will be handling double the number of passengers as at present, and treble the number by 2030. Because some airports, e.g. Heathrow, obviously cannot be expanded on this scale, other airports could face at least a five fold increase; alternatively entirely new airports will have to be built or opened at present tranquil or greenbelt sites.

The consequences of meeting this growth will be felt everywhere: locally, around airport sites; nationally, as aviation competes unfairly against other forms of transport and undermines the achievement of sustainable development; and globally, as aviation increasingly contributes to devastating climate change.

Meeting predicted demand will require the equivalent of a new airport the current size of Stansted every year for the next 30 years!

What are the economic impacts of aviation?