The UK industry association Airlines UK has set out several issues it wants any newly-elected UK Government to address after net month’s election, including criminalising passenger consumption of personal alcohol brought onboard as duty free or travel retail purchases.

 

This new alcohol ban initiative follows the zero tolerance policy adopted by several UK charter and low-cost carriers – particularly Jet2.com – who have been lobbying government for changes in legislation after creating the ‘Onboard Together Campaign’.

 

This airline and others say they are not against responsible alcohol consumption either prior to, or during flights, but will continue to routinely prosecute and ban passengers for life if they act irresponsibly.

 

AIRLINE ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR TOUGHER LAWS

As such, Jet.com and several others have already successfully initiated several successful prosecutions, resulting in courts imposing hefty fines and other order punishments on offenders – including airline life bans on some individuals.

 

 

Airlines UK has also listed several other important policy areas where it wants action over the duration of the next Parliament and it lists these as follows:

 

BREXIT: Safeguard EU, US and international market access for airlines; continue UK membership of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) with all EASA rules and regulations applied to UK operators and companies based here and the UK continuing to receive full voting rights within EASA; continue UK involvement in the development of Single European Sky (SES), and participation in SESAR; retain ability to employ staff from across Europe post-Brexit and protect current employment rights for those already employed in the UK or elsewhere in the EU; ensure there are no further restrictions to UK border arrangements.

 

AIRPORT CAPACITY: Continue to express commitment to expansion at Heathrow airport at a reasonable cost, with charges reducing over time with increased movements; put in place a policy framework that supports growth in aviation at other UK airports, through airspace modernisation, surface access improvements and operational changes that enhance resilience.

 

TAX: Abolish Air Passenger Duty (APD) in the next Parliament to transform the UK’s international competitiveness, boost trade and support tourism; ensure that reductions in APD in Scotland do not cause competitive distortions in other parts of the UK.

 

SUSTAINABILITY: Deliver legislation for including all sustainable aviation fuel producers in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. Provide a clear long-term policy to encourage UK sustainable aviation fuel production.

 

BORDERS & VISAS: Give Border Force the resources it needs to deliver a safe and secure border while meeting passenger and airline expectations for queue times and customer service; ensure there is no relaxation of current targets for queue times at the border and that these times are benchmarked regularly against our competitors; if a UK Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is introduced for some non-visa nationals, ensure the scheme is user friendly and cost effective; improve the competitiveness of the UK visa system in China and other important markets like India.

 

Commenting, Tim Alderslade, Airlines UK CEO said: “UK aviation is uniquely placed to deliver the Government’s vision of a global, outward looking Britain. Airlines – whether full service, low-cost, charter or freight – play a key role as economic enablers of GDP, connecting all regions of the UK to countries across the world, including many of the important economies that, post-Brexit, the UK will be seeking closer ties with.”

 

[Airlines UK represents all sectors of the industry working with governments, regulators and legislators to promote the interests of UK airlines-Ed].