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Select Committee · Transport Committee

Airlines and airports: supporting recovery in the UK aviation sector

Status: Closed Opened: 10 Sep 2021 Closed: 14 Nov 2022 17 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will be examining airlines’ and airports’ recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The sessions will also examine the effects of the Government’s policy on international travel, including the system for international travel and travel requirements such as PCR testing. This inquiry will consider: Airlines’ and airports’ recovery from the effects of the pandemic The … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifth Report - UK aviation: reform for take-off HC 683 25 Apr 2022 27 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
8 Conclusion Fifth Report - UK aviation: reform for … Accepted in Part

Under-regulation has resulted in a dysfunctional travel testing market.

Under-regulation has resulted in a dysfunctional travel testing market. The travel testing market was established with no clear protections or means of recourse for consumers. To date, the onus has been on consumers to perform market research, which has required them to navigate often misleading claims by companies. Unclear pricing, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating DHSC and UKHSA have worked with the CMA to improve the travel testing market, including removing providers and monitoring issues, but does not agree that the CMA needs to review the operation of the market for antigen travel tests.
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Department for Transport
9 Conclusion Fifth Report - UK aviation: reform for … Accepted in Part

Although the UK has, at the time of writing (April 2022), removed all testing requirements...

Although the UK has, at the time of writing (April 2022), removed all testing requirements for international travel, many other countries have retained testing requirements. Therefore, some passengers will need to access safe and affordable coronavirus testing options in the near-to-medium term. Government intervention is required to establish a functional … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating DHSC and UKHSA have worked with the CMA to improve the travel testing market, including removing providers and monitoring issues, but does not agree that the CMA needs to review the operation of the market for antigen travel tests.
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Department for Transport
10 Recommendation Fifth Report - UK aviation: reform for … Accepted in Part

The Government must introduce an Airline Insolvency Bill in the next Session of Parliament to...

The Government must introduce an Airline Insolvency Bill in the next Session of Parliament to set out a framework to handle future airline insolvencies to protect the interests of consumers, employees and taxpayers.

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation, agreeing to consider the Airline Insolvency Review's recommendations and deliver on those deemed appropriate, while an Airline Insolvency Bill will be introduced as soon as practicable; additionally, the CAA published a consultation on ATOL reform.
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Department for Transport
27 Recommendation Fifth Report - UK aviation: reform for … Accepted in Part

To help airports and airlines manage the sudden increase in demand for aviation, the Government...

To help airports and airlines manage the sudden increase in demand for aviation, the Government should: • prioritise the timely processing of checks for applicants for positions at airports; • allow applicants for airport positions to start supervised classroom training, when their initial security checks are complete; • review whether … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially accepts the recommendations. UKSV has prioritized applications for national security vetting from the aviation sector, and a Statutory Instrument was introduced on 29 April 2022 to amend retained law on background checks and temporarily allow some training courses to proceed before referencing …
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Department for Transport

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
15 Dec 2021 Dr Jenny Harries OBE · UK Health Security Agency, Edward Wynne-Evans · UK Health Security Agency, Jonathan Mogford · UK Health Security Agency, Richard Moriarty · Civil Aviation Authority, Robert Courts MP · Department for Transport View ↗
1 Dec 2021 Brian McClean · AGS Airports Limited, Cait Hewitt · Aviation Environment Federation (AEF), Clive Coleman · Regional and City Airports, Dr Andy Jefferson · Sustainable Aviation, Helena Bennett · Green Alliance, Kay Ryan · Loganair Limited View ↗
17 Nov 2021 Karen Dee · Airport Operators Association, Neena Bhati · Which?, Rt Hon Jenny Willott OBE · CAA Consumer Panel, Tim Alderslade · Airlines UK, Willie Walsh · International Air Transport Association View ↗
21 Sep 2021 Colm Lacy · British Airways, John Holland-Kaye · Heathrow Airport, Sophie Dekkers · easyJet, Stewart Wingate · Gatwick Airport Limited View ↗

Who gave evidence

20 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Brian McClean · Director of Communications and Sustainability AGS Airports Limited 1
Cait Hewitt · Policy Director Aviation Environment Federation (AEF) 1
Clive Coleman · Director Regional and City Airports 1
Colm Lacy · Acting Chief Commercial Officer British Airways 1
Dr Andy Jefferson · Programme Director Sustainable Aviation 1
Dr Jenny Harries OBE · Chief Executive UK Health Security Agency 1
Edward Wynne-Evans · Director of All-Hazards Intelligence UK Health Security Agency 1
Helena Bennett · Head of Climate Policy Green Alliance 1
John Holland-Kaye · Chief Executive Officer Heathrow Airport 1
Jonathan Mogford · Senior Responsible Officer for Borders and Manage… UK Health Security Agency 1
Karen Dee · Chief Executive Airport Operators Association 1
Kay Ryan · Chief Commercial Officer Loganair Limited 1
Neena Bhati · Head of Campaigns Which? 1
Richard Moriarty · Chief Executive Civil Aviation Authority 1
Robert Courts MP · Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security Department for Transport 1
Rt Hon Jenny Willott OBE · Chair CAA Consumer Panel 1
Sophie Dekkers · Chief Commercial Officer easyJet 1
Stewart Wingate · Chief Executive Officer Gatwick Airport Limited 1
Tim Alderslade · Chief Executive Airlines UK 1
Willie Walsh · Director General International Air Transport Association 1

Correspondence

10 letters
DateDirectionTitle
15 Dec 2021 — Correspondence from Paul Kellaway, Assistant Director for Advocacy, Nations and…
15 Dec 2021 — Correspondence from Chair to Rt Hon Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health,…
1 Dec 2021 — Correspondence from Which?, relating to airlines and aviation: supporting recov…
17 Nov 2021 — Correspondence from Dr Johanna Hutchinson, Director of Data and Data Science, D…
21 Oct 2021 — Correspondence from Sophie Dekkers, Chief Commercial Officer, Easyjet, relating…
22 Sep 2021 — Correspondence from Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Health and So…
8 Sep 2021 — Correspondence from Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport, relating…
8 Sep 2021 — Correspondence from Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for Transport, relating…
7 Sep 2021 — Correspondence from the Prime Minister, relating to International travel: traff…
7 Sep 2021 — Correspondence from Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of Transport, relating to safe, …