The pandemic and a slow recovery plan for the airports sector is likely to impact further progress and modernisation, the Scottish Affairs Committee has warned.
In its report, Airports in Scotland, MPs acknowledged the importance of airports to rural communities across Scotland, which was brought into sharp focus during the last two years.
The coronavirus crisis severely impacted Scottish airports, with passenger numbers dropping by more than 75% in Scotland in 2020.
The committee heard evidence that the recovery in terms of passenger numbers and the ability for Scotland to connect to other areas is unlikely to happen before 2025, and that varied restrictions across the UK made a challenging situation worse.
At its current rate, the UK Government’s strategic framework for aviation recovery - which is currently paused - is unlikely to speed up the sector’s recovery substantially. The committee calls on ministers to publish this as soon as possible.
The report warned that the Airspace Modernisation Programme risks collapse unless it is properly funded, making the case for a swift recovery plan even more pertinent.
The pandemic and varying travel restrictions throughout the UK magnified the necessity for joined-up thinking between the UK and Scottish governments.
This extends to the issue of Air Passenger Duty, which although devolved, is dependent on cross-government working to resolve legal issues around an exemption for the Highlands and Islands. The committee urged ministers to come together to explore this issue, which will then allow the introduction of the Air Departure Tax.
Scottish Affairs Committee chair Pete Wishart said: “Airports across Scotland offer a lifeline to many rural communities across the country - during the pandemic, airports had to stay open so essential workers can carry on with their important work, and that medicines and goods could get to those who needed them.
“However, we heard in evidence that it would have been cheaper to completely close airports than survive with the trickle of passengers they saw come and go.
“Now the UK Government must publish its recovery plans for the sector: the uncertainty is continuing to be deeply damaging and delay any progress to make the sector fit for the 21st century.”
The committee’s recommends that the UK Government's strategic framework for aviation recovery should include:
- How airports in Scotland can increase their passenger numbers and grow their businesses whilst meeting net zero targets and using greener methods of operating;
- How airports in Scotland can continue to deliver current connectivity and recover any routes that have been lost throughout the pandemic;
- What the context is in which he UK Government would step in with funding for stage three of the Airspace Modernisation Programme.
It also recommends that the inter-ministerial group on transport produce a report within the next six months outlining the steps they will take to improve communications between devolved nations around the timings of travel restrictions.
This should investigate how to develop new communication processes that respect devolved competencies and explore where joined up working can take place. The inter-ministerial group on transport should also review the effects of the timings of travel restrictions over the pandemic have affected airports, noted the report.
Finally, the committee recommends that the UK Government investigate how money raised from Air Passenger Duty could be used for environmental purposes and report the results of this investigation by the end of 2022.
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