1. Introduction. 2. Response

Transcription

1 Consumer Council response to the Department for Transport Draft Airports National Policy Statement: new runway capacity and infrastructure at the airports in the South East of England 25 May 2017

2 1. Introduction 1.1. The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (the Consumer Council) is a statutory body whose main function is to promote and safeguard the interest of consumers in Northern Ireland In taking forward our statutory remit we work to bring about change to benefit consumers by making their voice heard and making it count. The Consumer Council represents consumers views by obtaining and researching consumer opinions so that we can robustly reflect consumers views The Consumer Council handles complaints from public transport users, ferry passengers and air passengers. We are the designated complaint handling body for EU Regulation 1107 (Passengers with reduced mobility), the voluntary complaint handling body for EU Regulation 1177 (Maritime passenger rights) and we handle complaints for Northern Ireland (NI) passengers flying to and from Northern Ireland in relation to EC Regulation 261 (Denied boarding and cancellation). 2. Response 2.1. The Department for Transport (DfT) consultation document outlines the need for additional airport capacity and further explains the Government s rationale for selecting the Northwest Runway at Heathrow Airport as its preferred scheme to deliver additional capacity in the South East of England. The document also makes reference to a number of key areas on which we will focus our response.

3 Air Passenger Duty 2.2. Section 2.5 of the document states that Air Passenger Duty (APD) remains an important contributor to Government revenue, raising over 3 billion in 2014/ Analysis of NI passenger flow statistics for shows that upwards of 75% of all flights to and from NI airports are via other UK airports. This means that NI consumers pay APD twice This high level of dependence on air travel has also been recognised by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee who, in its report Air Passenger Duty: implications for Northern Ireland, stated that for many people in NI travelling by air is not a luxury, but is an essential element of family and economic life The Consumer Council is of the view that this tax disproportionately impacts on NI consumers due to our dependency to use air travel when travelling within the UK. Domestic Connectivity 2.6. Section 3.29 states that the Government recognises the importance that the nations and regions of the UK attach to domestic connectivity, particularly connections into Heathrow The table at Section 3.32 of the consultation indicates that there will be an additional six domestic routes delivered at Heathrow by 2030, in addition to the current eight. The table names Belfast City as a current route and Belfast International as one of the new routes to be developed under Heathrow expansion House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Air Passenger Duty: implications for Northern Ireland (July 2011).

4 2.8. In his statement about airport policy on 25/10/ the Secretary of State (SoS) for Transport (Chris Grayling) stated The airport (Heathrow) expects to add six more domestic routes across the UK by 2030, bringing the total to 14. That will strengthen existing links to nations and regions such as Northern Ireland The SoS goes on to say, Furthermore, the Government will take all necessary steps, including where appropriate, ring fencing a suitable proportion of new slots for domestic routes through public service obligations to enhance connectivity within the United Kingdom. It is important to stress that this is a decision in the national interest; In response to a question from Lillian Greenwood MP in relation to the difficulties in reserving slots the SoS responded to state I am absolutely clear...the national policy statements we prepare must contain provisions that protect connectivity...it is not just about a handful of slots at 11 o clock at night... We have to get this right for the whole United Kingdom In response to questions from Sammy Wilson MP and Nigel Dodds MP the SoS states We would want to protect connectivity with Northern Ireland...and we would be extremely concerned if routes to Belfast were in any jeopardy Finally, in response to a question from Ian Murray MP, the SoS stated, I do not want a regional airport to be given a tail-end slot at 11 o clock at night...we have to think carefully about how this should be done and what are the best mechanism is for doing it. However, I have given a guarantee that there will be protections for the regional airports and the connectivity that they need. 3 Airport Capacity - 25 October 2016

5 2.13. Therefore, the Consumer Council anticipated a clear description of how this protection for the domestic connectivity needs of regional airports would be implemented. The mechanisms for securing this protection must be clearly embedded in the Airports National Policy Statement Section 3.33 of the consultation document states that the Government recognises that air routes are in the first instance a commercial decision for airlines and are not in the gift of an airport operator. In relation to the domestic route envisaged under an expanded Heathrow Airport, Section 3.33 also states the Government is determined that these new routes will be secured, and will hold Heathrow Airport to account on this It is not clear from the consultation how the Government will hold Heathrow Airport to account to protect domestic connectivity despite the fact that guarantees have been given that protection would exist There is no mention of PSO as a mechanism to protect connectivity in the consultation document and no stated alternative which outlines how Government will guarantee that there will be protections for the regional airports and the connectivity that they need The Consumer Council therefore requests further information on how Government will deliver these protections for Northern Ireland regional airports and the necessary domestic connectivity to ensure Northern Ireland benefits from an expanded Heathrow Airport. To discuss this response please contact Scott Kennerley, Head of Transport Policy on or scott.kennerley@consumercouncil.org.uk

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