Government failed to produce evidence for airport expansion growth claims

The New Economics Foundation (NEF) has reacted to the Environmental Audit Committee’s report on aviation expansion.

Dr Alex Chapman, senior researcher at the New Economics Foundation who gave evidence to the environmental audit committee, said:

“This is a damning assessment of this government’s airport expansion agenda. This government is unable to produce evidence that supports their central claim: that growing our airports will grow our economy. Had they done their research they would have found that demand for business air travel is collapsing and we’re flying ever more tourists to spend money outside the country than we are flying in.

“This government is damaging our climate and local communities and exchanging the welfare of the many for the indulgences of a tiny minority. The real beneficiaries of the airport expansion drive are an elite group of ultra-frequent flyers, as well as business owners mostly based overseas. The transport secretary should reject airport expansions and raise taxes on ultra-frequent flyers and the aviation industry.”

Notes

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