Paul Everitt, ADS Group CEO comments on decision to expand Heathrow Airport
Following the confirmation of the decision to expand Heathrow Airport, Paul Everitt, ADS Group Chief Executive, commented:
“The decision to increase runway capacity at Heathrow Airport is a welcome one; it will enable the UK to remain globally competitive with a route network that ensures valuable connections to established and emerging markets.
“It is now important to get on with planning and construction so that the infrastructure is provided within a reasonable timeframe.
“Mitigating the environmental impacts of increased aviation has been an overriding priority throughout the debate. The UK’s aerospace industry leads the world in developing innovative technology that makes aircraft more fuel efficient, less polluting and quieter.
“As demand for air travel increases, UK airlines are expected to invest around £60bn in new aircraft over the next 20 years. For UK aerospace companies this represents major opportunities for growth and a sustained economic return for the nation’s finances.”
Ends
Additional information
Increasing Global Demand; UK Aerospace Industry contribution:
§ The anticipated rise in global aircraft traffic over the next 20 years will drive demand for over 33,000 commercial aircraft by 2035 – worth more than $5.2 trillion
§ This should mean a contribution of £30bn to the economy - the UK’s aerospace industry is the largest in Europe and second largest in the world
§ Currently, the commercial aircraft backlog globally stands at over 13,000 aircraft; worth more than £200bn to the UK’s Aerospace industry, and around 9.5 years’ worth of work in hand
§ UK industry is also helping to contribute to the delivery of the next generation of more efficient commercial aircraft. Production rates are set to reach over 1,400 annually by the end of 2016, equivalent to 4 large aircraft rolling off the global production line every day.
Growth in UK domiciled airlines
§ UK airlines are set to invest heavily in new aircraft over the next 20 years, with an estimated investment of $75bn (£60bn) by 2034, delivering over 900 new aircraft in the process
§ This growth is driven by a predicted 80 per cent rise in passenger numbers to and from UK airports by 2034, to 218 million. UK airlines will take delivery of 409 aircraft for growth purposes, and 504 to replace the existing fleet over the next 20 years
§ All of the 700 aircraft currently being flown by UK airlines will be replaced by 2034, with the in-fleet total of UK airlines projected to rise to 1,110; a growth of 60 per cent compared with the previous ten years.
A new generation of cleaner, quieter and more efficient aircraft
§ Long term stability and certainty is critical to the development of new aircraft and aerospace technology; it can take between 10-15 years to bring a new aircraft type to market successfully
§ Significant improvements in efficiency and performance have already contributed to the new generation of aircraft currently being delivered becoming cleaner, greener and quieter
§ Since the first jet aircraft began operations in the 1950s, technology-driven efficiency has improved 80 per cent, with on average each new generation of aircraft being 20 per cent more efficient than those it replaces
§ The UK is leading in this area - with the lightweight composite wings of the Airbus A350 and the efficient Rolls-Royce Trent XWB design and manufactured in the UK, contributing to an overall 25 per cent fuel saving in the A350’s performance
§ The UK is also continuing to invest in the next generation of aerospace technology – with the joint industry and government Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) allocating funding of nearly £4bn to R&D projects by 2026.
Sources: ADS Report ‘The Great British Take Off’; Airbus Global Market Forecast “Mapping Demand”; Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders, ATAG