Article

The economic and social benefits of growth in aviation must be weighed against the environmental costs, including noise, air pollution and climate change. This report examines the impact of further growth in aviation on UK sustainable development.

The number of people flying from UK airports is forecast to almost treble by 2030, while air freight is growing at an even faster rate. The economic and social benefits of growth in aviation must be weighed against the environmental costs, including noise, air pollution and climate change. Unconstrained growth in aviation may also increase regional economic inequalities as well as the development pressure in the south east, while extracting jobs from other regions.

The report concludes that unfettered growth would not comply with the objectives of sustainable development and makes policy recommendations to put aviation on a sustainable trajectory. Its recommendations are relevant to the aviation industry and environmentalists alike, along with many others involved in the future of aviation.