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[textarea]Hammond tells aviation bosses ‘we will not agree’
Secretary of state for transport Philip Hammond 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, ABTN reports. Speaking at the British Air Transport Association (BATA) annual dinner, he said that despite not agreeing on everything, he appreciated the ‘forthrightness of the views’ of some in the industry.
Mr Hammond took the opportunity to praise the aviation industry as ‘innovative, flexible and responsive, used to reacting in real time to a rapidly changing environment’. He added that aviation plays a ‘key role’ in the UK economy: ‘The Icelandic volcano and then the snow in December have reminded us how dependent we are on a functioning aviation system, and how severe the ramifications are when things go wrong.’
However, the Government ‘also recognises the cost [aviation] imposes, particularly the environmental cost.’ He 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’, and he promised to engage with industry leaders ‘with an open door, as we work with you to develop a strategy for UK aviation over the coming months.’
The Department for Transport will publish a scoping document on its aviation strategy in the spring, which industry leaders will be expected to comment on, before publishing a draft strategy document in early 2012.
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Secretary of state for transport Philip Hammond 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, ABTN reports. Speaking at the British Air Transport Association (BATA) annual dinner, he said that despite not agreeing on everything, he appreciated the ‘forthrightness of the views’ of some in the industry.
Mr Hammond took the opportunity to praise the aviation industry as ‘innovative, flexible and responsive, used to reacting in real time to a rapidly changing environment’. He added that aviation plays a ‘key role’ in the UK economy: ‘The Icelandic volcano and then the snow in December have reminded us how dependent we are on a functioning aviation system, and how severe the ramifications are when things go wrong.’
However, the Government ‘also recognises the cost [aviation] imposes, particularly the environmental cost.’ He 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’, and he promised to engage with industry leaders ‘with an open door, as we work with you to develop a strategy for UK aviation over the coming months.’
The Department for Transport will publish a scoping document on its aviation strategy in the spring, which industry leaders will be expected to comment on, before publishing a draft strategy document in early 2012.
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