The Airport Operators Association Launches Film With ITN Productions to put Security, Passenger Experience and Sustainability Top of the Agenda

The Airport Operators Association Launches Film With ITN Productions to put Security, Passenger Experience and Sustainability Top of the Agenda

LONDON, February 23, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --



It's been a record year for the aviation sector, contributing over GBP50 billion
towards UK GDP and providing over one million jobs. The Airport Operators Association (AOA)
has partnered with ITN Productions to produce a news-style programme titled 'Airport
Matters' examining the drivers of growth, and the challenges the industry still has to
overcome.



(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141030/713382-a )




Web video:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbhb8JLlyQ8



Introduced by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, 'Airport Matters' is an in-depth
online programme targeted at the aviation industry and featuring interviews, news-style
reports, and sponsored editorial profiles. Maintaining growth to respond to rapidly
increasing passenger numbers and the need to lead international exports, ensuring security
and greater safety without compromising the experience of passengers, as well as
responding to new sustainability standards, UK Aviation is dealing with a complex task.
But as 'Airport Matters' reveals, some great improvements and achievements are already
taking place.



The safety of passengers is of the upmost importance to airports. Security solutions
suppliers and experts explain how they have tackled this challenge by designing and
implementing new safety protocols and effective and durable security systems while
enhancing the travelers' experience. Investing in 'cleaner, quieter, smarter' aviation and
dealing with its environmental externalities also constitutes a major area of focus for
the sector. Supportive policies on visas and the abolition of Air Passenger Duty (APD) for
children has been welcomed, but the industry is now calling for the tax to be consistent
across the whole of the UK following the announcement from the Scottish Government that it
will start to reduce APD by 50% north of the border from 2018. Finally, the programme
examines the crucial role of investors to support infrastructure development and future
growth in the industry.



Statement from Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the AOA: "2015 has been another
fascinating year for aviation. Passenger numbers continue to head in the right direction
at airports across the UK and we are now at the same level of demand as in 2007, just
before the economic crash. Airports have been investing huge sums of money in new
infrastructure, in order to further improve the passenger experience and attract new
airline customers, and this expenditure is paying off with new short and long-haul routes
being announced almost on a weekly basis.



"On the policy front we have made progress on aviation tax, with APD being
substantially reduced for the longest-haul routes in April and from May abolished for
children under 12. We are now lobbying to ensure that the levy is applied consistently
across the whole of the UK in the event of the Scottish Government reducing APD by half,
as they have promised to start doing in 2018. The Government has also listened to the
industry with respect to visas, and we have seen new policies announced aimed at
encouraging more high-spending Chinese tourists to visit the UK, which we fully support.



"On the important issue of airport capacity, the Government is still to respond fully
to the Airports Commission Final Report and we urge it to do so as quickly as possible, to
remove uncertainly and ensure that the UK has the much needed capacity that it so
desperately needs. In the meantime, it is important to remember that we need to make
better use of existing capacity which helps all UK airports, and the Government can do
more to assist on this, whether it's through taking steps to improve surface access - road
and rail - to all airports, reducing APD or supporting long overdue airspace change."



Simon Shelley, Head of Industry News, said: "Video storytelling is the most compelling
way to engage an audience and across the aviation landscape there are a plethora of
innovative and creative solutions for security, safety and an enhanced passenger
experience. We were delighted to tell those stories and explore a sector that will
continue to expand, but clearly has to grow in the appropriate way.



The programme was launched at the AOA UK Aviation Conference on 23rd November which
was moderated by news anchor and television presenter Natasha Kaplinsky.  It is available
online at http://www.aoa.org.uk/2015/11/airport-matters-2015-2



Notes to editors: 



About the AOA 



The Airport Operators Association (AOA) is the trade association that represents UK
airports. Its mission is to see UK airports grow sustainably. It represents the views of
UK airports to Government, Parliament and Regulators to secure policy outcomes that help
deliver our mission. The AOA represents some 70 UK airports and general aviation airfields
in the UK. For more information, please visit http://www.aoa.org.uk



About ITN Productions  



ITN Productions is ITN's bespoke production hub producing creative and commercially
valuable content for the corporate, commercial, broadcast and digital sectors. Industry
News forms part of this offering and is a communications tool for leading industry bodies
and national associations produced in a broadcast news programme format, including
interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles. For more information, visit
http://www.itnproductions.co.uk




 
Press contacts  
Tim Alderslade  
AOA  
T:  +44(0)7855-337-616 
Email: timaldersalde@aoa.org.uk

 
Emilie Charron  
ITN Productions  
Tel: +44(0)207-430-4708 
Email: emilie.charron@itn.co.uk

 


 





Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141030/713382-a


Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141030/713382-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141030/713382-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
ITN Productions and the AOA


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Profile: intent