GENEVA: July 09, 2019. A report from IATA says the UK could add 176,000 jobs if it expands runway capacity in the South-East of England, abolishes or reduces its Air Passenger Duty tax – the highest in the world – and makes it easier for visitors to get a visa.

In December 2016 the BBC reported Boris ‘Mr Blobby’ Johnson as saying a third runway at London Heathrow was “undeliverable’. Now, according to recent British media reports, Johnson’s bid to become the next unelected UK prime minister has made his opposition to the expansion more opaque.

IATA’s latest lobby document in favour of Heathrow expansion says whilst air transport supports 1.56 million jobs and contributes £89 billion to UK GDP, sector employment could fall to 1.44 million by 2037 without a change in current government policy.

Analysing Britain’s air transport competitiveness, IATA rates the country’s passenger facilitation at 5.7 compared to a regional average of 4.4; cargo at 6.3 compared to 6.1; supply chain management at 6.6 versus 7.2; infrastructure management of 5.1 compared to 5.6; and a regulatory environment of 5.6 versus 5.1 for an overall average of 5.8 - the same as the regional figure.

“As a positive finding, cargo facilitation represents the strongest point of UK air transport competitiveness. The UK has made considerable improvements in a number of key air trade facilitation metrics, facilitating the smooth transport of cargo across borders. Nonetheless, in spite of the good overall performance in terms of trade facilitation, there is still much to do in order to enable full implementation of e-freight,” said the report.

IATA says the right pro-aviation policies could lead to a rise in passenger volumes from 142.8 million in 2017 to 167-204 million by 2037; the GDP contribution would rise to £104-£127 billion; and employment could hit 1.76 million.

IATA Regional vice president for Europe Rafael Schnartzman declared: “As an island, the UK is uniquely dependent on air transport in order to connect itself to the world. It is no coincidence that the UK ranks very highly for the strength of its route network. But this network—and the 1.6 million jobs that depend on aviation—cannot be taken for granted,” he declared.