Aviation has become an easy target - it is time to fight back

With everyone from environmentalists to opportunist politicians rubbishing the aviation industry, we are facing ever more onerous regulations and taxes that undermine our economic future. Why then are we not doing more to fight our corner, asks aviation author Steve Thomas-Emberson?  

I have worked in the airport world for nearly 15 years and have been very fortunate in meeting and interviewing some of the most talented people any industry has to offer for my work as a journalist. There has always been one thing that has struck me, however, and that is the industry's complete lack of self promotion.  

Whether the company is an aircraft manufacturer, architectural practice designing airports or the many high-tech companies operating in our glorious world, I have found some quite baffled that I should find what they are doing and achieving so interesting.  

Make no mistake, such an approach must change. We, as an industry, face unprecedented attacks from many quarters. 

Business benefits

This industry gives the world's population so much in terms of the wealth and development of global business that air travel brings. It also enriches the lives of hundreds of millions of travelers who are able to experience other areas of the world for their own personal pleasure!  

Despite these enormous benefits, the aviation industry is under attack - with demonstrators opposed to airport expansion, aircraft emissions, development of new runways and even the size of airport operating companies themselves.  

I say it is time for the industry to strike back in the most articulate manner possible, to counter the attacks and restore a little balance in the debate.  

BAA Ltd, one of the most successful airport operating companies around, has been ordered to dispose of one or more of it’s UK airports “in the interest of competition”. Bunkum! That is like telling the Manchester United soccer club to dispose of their top stars Rooney and Ronaldo because the team is too good.

Emissions impossible

Greenhouse gas emissions by the aviation industry are a particularly popular target for opponents, and have been targeted by governments, particularly the UK government, as a politically expedient target for raising extra taxation. 

Take a look at the UK-government commissioned Stern Review of 2005, however, and you find it says that, "Aviation industry carbon dioxide emissions might only account for 1.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions".

In that case, why has the industry been the target of the British government's latest tax initiative, which will see taxes apply to unsold seats on a plane. Imagine the same principle applied to another essential form of transport, the car! Would a family have to keep a monthly log of how many seats were taken up and at what percentage of the time the car was used? I think not!  

The only reason the UK government is planning this tax is because it sees aviation as an easy target because we in the aviation industry do not do enough to fight back.  

Attack is the best form of defence

Easyjet to the best of my knowledge is the only aviation company to publicly come out and promote the environmental benefits of its modern fleet of aircraft, even though manufacturers themselves have made great strides in this area.  

As well as extra taxes, many airport operators in Europe and North America are handicapped by ludicrously long planning processes. Take the development of Heathrow Terminal 5. The Public Enquiry into the development of this terminal took longer than the entire project to build Beijing Capital's Terminal 3, including commissioning, design and construction!

My solution would be to set a limit of six months for any enquiry and a further three months for reviews!  If the industry fails to promote itself and doesn't counter the arguments of environmentalists and opportunist politicians, then we can expect many more such attacks in future, that will serve to undermine the very existence of this great industry.    

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