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Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

An air transport strategy for Northern Ireland

Closed Opened 23 Mar 2012 Closed 17 Jul 2018

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee held an inquiry into air transport strategy for Northern Ireland, and reported on 30 November 2012. Report: An air transport strategy for Northen Ireland An air transport strategy for Northern Ireland: Call for evidence The Committee's inquiry looked at: the implications of current air links for Northern Ireland, specifically the economy; regional and international connectivity; the lack of public transport links to, and between, Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry airports; the implications for Northern Ireland of the Civil Aviation Bill; the implications of the proposed takeover of BMI by IAG; and tax policy.

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 23 March 2012.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 1st Report - An air transport strategy for Northern Ireland (Report together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence.) on 30 November 2012.

The government's response

Published 11 February 2013.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government welcomes the report and the importance of air transport to Northern Ireland, but states that it "cannot accept" the recommendation to expedite the Airports Commission and that several matters are devolved or for the Northern Ireland Executive.

  • On airport capacity, it says it "cannot accept" that the Airports Commission's work be expedited, citing the need for a "robust evidence base"; it has asked Sir Howard Davies for an interim report on how current capacity "might be optimised".
  • On protecting regional slots, the UK has raised the issue with the European Commission, but it is "proving challenging" to devise a mechanism without distorting the market. The Department for Transport will keep the Committee apprised of developments.
  • On Air Passenger Duty, it notes the devolved zero rate for direct long-haul flights from Northern Ireland from 1 January 2013. Any further devolution would "need to be funded by the Northern Ireland Executive", and different intra-UK rates would not be possible under EU law.
  • On visas, officials continue to meet on possible visit visa alignment with Ireland, but the government has "no plans" to align the cost of a UK visit visa with a Schengen visa.

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Reports

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