Will expanding airport capacity help to grow the UK economy? MPs explore economic case for expansion
How will the UK’s airport expansion plans contribute towards growing the UK economy, and do the mooted benefits of expansion outweigh the potential risks for the Government’s goals for the environment and a Net Zero economy?
MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee will consider these questions as it hears from economists, academics and aviation industry representatives on Wednesday, 18 June.
The government’s ‘Jet Zero’ strategy sets out a decarbonisation pathway for the aviation industry. However, concerns have been raised that it is already off course, with some fearing it is underpinned by unrealistic assumptions. The predecessor Committee discussed these concerns in its 2024 report on net zero and the UK aviation sector.
Meeting details
In the first panel, MPs will hear from economists and academics as they seek to understand if the proposed economic benefits of expansion can be achieved without environmental costs, and whether the analysis underpinning expansion plans is robust.
The Committee will also hear from industry voices, including Heathrow’s Director of Carbon Strategy. MPs are likely to question witnesses on how they are using existing airport capacity, the work they are doing to help achieve the UK’s climate targets and how expansion will impact demand for flights.