Aviation and Planning Policy: Current and Future Flight Paths

摘要

The new aviation policy framework is still in its early stages. Yet its primary components are arguably already in place and non-negotiable. New runways at the major airports in the South-East have been rejected, which gives rise to a strong case for growth within the existing infrastructure. Local environmental considerations are at the forefront of the new proposals, but given the country's economic woes it is difficult to see that these will not ultimately suffer significant compromise in the pursuit of growth. Indeed already rejected new runways may be the only substantive environmental gain. Finally, climate change concerns are said to be given a new prominence, but the decision to include aviation in the EU ETS has already been made, which may effectively limit the range and usefulness of other emissions reduction mechanisms.