NEWS RELEASE

Issued: Wednesday 18 January 2012
Our reference: ADS PR 2012 003

For immediate release

AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WELCOMES CONSULTATION ON THAMES ESTUARY AIRPORT

Massive boost to national infrastructure benefits UK economy both in short and long term

ADS today (Wednesday) welcomes the consultation on plans for a new airport in the South East saying that increased airport capacity will benefit the UK economy without damaging environmental targets.

Rees Ward, CEO ADS, said:

“The UK Aerospace industry welcomes this evolution of Government policy to look at the option of Thames Estuary Airport. With UK airports in the South East operating at full capacity our businesses are missing out on the opportunity to engage with the new emerging markets – something that is not lost on our European competitors.

“A national infrastructure on such a scale as a new airport would bring obvious benefit in the short term in terms of inward investment and jobs for the South East, however what it also encapsulates is a vision for the future. A new competitive hub in the South East would demonstrate that the UK is serious about remaining a major trading power for the years to come and would leave a lasting legacy that would benefit the whole country – not just one region.

“Although a new fully integrated airport is a laudable long term aim, it will only bring new capacity online by 2025-30 at the earliest. The need for new capabilities is required now if the UK is to retain its preferred “hub” status. Short term capacity measures are therefore also needed.

“The aerospace industry is proving it can deliver environmentally with aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Future aircraft like the Bombardier CSeries and Airbus A350 XWB will improve further and build upon the technological improvements that have seen a 50 per cent cut in CO2 emissions over the last 50 years and noise nuisance reduced by 75 per cent in the last 30. Future technological advances indicate that despite a dramatic increase in air travel, these emissions will be held equivalent to 2005 levels. This means that the increased air traffic that would accompany a new airport will not pose the environmental risk some might claim.”

ENDS

Further UK Aerospace facts:

• UK Aerospace has a 17 per cent global market share, making it the leading aerospace sector in Europe and second globally to the US
• Aerospace is worth £23bn per year to theUK, £16bn of which comes through exports
• The industry employs 100,000 people directly and supports 360,000 in total
• The wider UK aviation sector (aerospace manufacturers, airlines, airports and air traffic managers) has come together as Sustainable Aviation to demonstrate how the use of new technology and operations can deliver CO2 emissions in 2050 that are below the level from 2000 despite forecasted trebling of passenger numbers. This “CO2 Roadmap” from Sustainable Aviation also features in the report.

A pdf version of the UK Aerospace campaign “Flying Forward” can be found at: http://www.adsgroup.org.uk/community/news/download.asp?a=7945