December 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference focuses on the future of UK aviation - including policy priorities and the sector’s prospects in the wake of COVID-19.
The discussion is bringing stakeholders together with key policy officials who are due to attend from the DfT; the CMA; DIT; Home Office; MHCLG; BEIS; Defence Airspace/Air Traffic Management; the Border Force; the HSE; the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise; the MOD; and the Welsh Government.
The discussion at a glance:
- COVID-19 - addressing the immediate and long-term impacts on the aviation industry
- market conditions - meeting changing customer demands and changes in the sector across the value chain
- net zero - the sustainability policy ambitions for aviation
- regional aviation - and priorities for supporting local economies
- policy - next steps, and creating a long-term vision for the aviation sector as part of the national aviation strategy
Relevant developments:
- the Government’s agenda around restoring domestic and international travel
- Beyond the crisis - speech to the aviation industry - the Transport Secretary outlining ongoing support measures and plans for the future including a test and release system set to be in place throughout UK airports by December aimed at cutting down quarantine time
- Aviation Strategy White Paper - expected later this year following the Aviation 2050 - the future of UK aviation consultation
- Regional Air Connectivity Review - aimed at supporting the Government’s levelling up agenda across the UK’s regions
- airport capacity in the south-east - including the possible Heathrow expansion, compliance with the Paris agreement, and the airport recently losing its status as the busiest European hub
- Brexit - the EU exit transition period coming to a close at the end of this year
- the Global Travel Taskforce - being established between DHSC and DfT, and aiming to identify areas where government support can help the sector overcome challenges posed by COVID-19
- COVID Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) scheme - short-term debt purchasing by Government, which is designed to provide short-term relief for corporate costs.
- Aviation Restart, Recovery, and Engagement Unit - set up at the DfT, working on strategy for protecting and restoring economic confidence, security and activity across the aviation sector
- Decarbonising Transport - Setting the Challenge - setting out government aims to reduce emissions across the UK transport sector, including aviation
- Government backs cleaner planes, ships and automobiles with £37m boost - the Business Secretary’s announced investment for technologies to help electrify planes, ships and road vehicles
- Prepare for lift-off: Jet Zero Council to deliver carbon-free flight - formed of academics and the aviation aerospace industries to support a transition to a zero-emission aviation sector by 2050
- A New Deal for Britain - the Prime Minister’s plan, which includes £10m of funding for the first wave of innovative R&D projects in batteries, motors, electronics and fuel cells, with £100m for researching clean technology in industries such as aviation where decarbonisation is particularly challenging
The discussion in detail:
COVID-19
- priorities - moving forward from the pandemic’s economic and social impacts, and tackling the fundamental challenges for manufacturers, airports, airlines and others across the supply chains
- airports:
- adaptation - integrating newly-needed public health measures into operations, and next steps for restoring passenger confidence and attracting flyers back to airports
- levelling up - enabling both national and regional airports to contribute to and benefit from a resurge in national economic growth
- support - latest thinking what is needed from funding and other support packages
- extension and development - assessing the pipeline of projects for UK airports in the context of COVID-19 and how plans can be configured to best contribute to sector recovery and protection, in the context of environmental priorities and policy
- airlines:
- air travel now - the impact of the introduction of travel corridors and what can be done to improve consumer confidence and support a responsible return to business and leisure travel
- ramping up operations - the airport slot allocation process, and ensuring that systems encourage and support connectivity and the ability of airlines to restart cost-effectively
- implementing safety measures - the practicalities and economics for airlines of measures for protecting the health and wellbeing of staff and passengers
- support - the scope and options for financial help, such as operational loans, further job protection measures, and support for scaling activity back up
- financial support, and market dynamics and innovation:
- market dynamics - the outlook for M&A and new partnerships and the impact on the sector as a whole, players in the range of it segments, and on the services provided to customers
- finance - immediate and long-term support needed across aviation industry, and options for protecting supply chains, and businesses and their operations, from significant demand volatility
- utilising support - best practice for airlines and other stakeholders and the impact of emergency measures like the CCFF scheme
- for new markets and business models - prospects within the aviation sector, such as increasing dedicated freight planes, and steps for repurposing airline fleets for freight capacity
Future demand and sustainability
- policy - looking ahead to priorities for the Aviation Strategy White Paper, as it is prepared for expected publication later this year
- innovation - latest developments in decarbonisation, new technology, and development of future fuels
- regulation - priorities for ensuring that it keeps pace with new technology - including the use of unmanned aircraft - and addressing airspace management concerns and safety risks
- decarbonising surface transport - including priorities for improving public transport connectivity and growing its use, and developing infrastructure to support Low Emission Vehicles
- workforce - making sure the industry has the people and skills it needs as it adapts to new ways of working and longer term environmental targets
- future demand - preparing the industry to meet future market activity and customer needs - including new capacity in the South East - and how can this be done in a way that supports both environmental and economic goals
Developing and supporting strong regional airports
- the Department for Transport’s Regional Air Connectivity Review
- priorities for developing strong regional airports - and their role in supporting the government’s levelling up agenda
- market dynamics - the impact of consolidation and financial challenges on the long term outlook for some regional routes
- modal connectivity - linking regional airports more effectively with public transport, and local and strategic road networks
- airport connectivity - expanding links between national, regional, and international hubs
- market development - opening up new routes for travel and trade, and seizing trade opportunities following the EU exit transition period
The agenda:
- Assessing the immediate impact of COVID-19 on the UK airline industry and the next steps for recovery
- Regulation, competition and safeguarding passengers
- Adapting to COVID-19, priorities for improving passenger confidence and restoring airline activity - latest thinking on financial support measures, market consolidation, and future markets
- The future of mobility and manufacturers in UK aviation - regulation, innovation, and meeting decarbonisation targets
- Developing a pathway for reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and safeguarding the skills base, wider aerospace partners, and supporting the future of the sector
- Examining the market and financial challenges for UK airports
- Priorities for major airports in the UK - scaling up services, rolling out health checks and screening, meeting future capacity needs
- Next steps for regional airports - delivering connectivity to meet future demand, their role in international trade, and supporting local and national economic recovery
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons, and officials from the Department for Transport; the Competition and Markets Authority; the Department for International Trade; the Home Office; MHCLG; BEIS; Defence Airspace/Air Traffic Management; the Border Force; the Health & Safety Executive; the Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise; the MOD; and the Welsh Government. Also due to attend are representatives from AECOM; AmcoGiffen; ARPAS-UK; Arup; Atkins; Bird & Bird; Blackpool Council; British International Freight Association; CAA; CGI; City, University of London; Civil Aviation Authority; Collins Aerospace; Costain; Cranfield Aerospace Solutions; DWD Property + Planning; Energy Institute; Flying Disabled; Frazer-Nash Consultancy; ICF; ICF SHE; Loughborough University; Met Office; New Lower Thames Transport Tunnel; Osprey Consulting Services; Resilient Pilot; Sheffield Hallam University; Shell; Skanska; Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE); Storm Aviation; Tailwind Consultants; Uttlesford District Council; VisitBritain; Weston Williamson and Partners; Which? and WSP UK.
Press passes have been reserved by representatives from the Aerospace Manufacturing Magazine; GreenAir Online; The Sunday Times; The Times and Travel Weekly Group.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
