BATA changes its name to “Airlines UK” – to lobby ever more effectively for benefits to airlines
Date added: 15 November, 2016
The British Air Transport Association (BATA) has changed its name to “Airlines UK – the association of UK airlines”. It is the trade body for UK-registered airlines, and they say they “work with governments, regulators and legislators to promote the interests of UK airlines, and with organisations across the sector to encourage long-term and sustainable growth in aviation.” …”We formulate opinions and engage with stakeholders on a number of issues, including airport capacity, taxation, sustainable aviation, disruptive passengers and regulation and consumer protection. We are proud members of the Sustainable Aviation, A Fair Tax on Flying and The Sky’s the Limit industry campaigns.” In other words, they lobby like crazy with their public relations team for more, cheaper flying and they have repeatedly lobbied for lower Air Passenger Duty. Back in January a group calling itself “Airlines for Europe” (A4E) was set up, consisting of Europe’s 5 largest airline groups – Air France KLM, easyJet, IAG, Lufthansa Group, and Ryanair. It wants to “represent the interests of its members when dealing with the EU institutions, international organisations and national governments on European aviation issues.” What that means is that it wants to lobby against anything that does not lower air fares, or increase airline profits. This was based on the group “Airlines for America” (A4A) which lobbies/advocates Congress and the Administration on behalf of its member airlines. . Tweet
BATA becomes Airlines UK – the association of UK airlines
November 7, 2016
The British Air Transport Association (BATA), the trade body for UK-registered airlines, will on Monday 7 November change its name to ‘Airlines UK – the association of UK airlines’.Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said: “UK airlines have seen huge change and growth in the 40 years since BATA was established. Our sector is an important UK success story in which BATA has played a part. There is a huge amount going on in the industry currently – whether that’s expansion at Heathrow and ensuring that airlines are fairly represented in future discussions around cost and funding; promoting the need for aviation to be prioritised during the EU withdrawal process; and further communicating to stakeholders the huge strides forward the sector is taking to become ever more sustainable. As a result there has never been a more important time for the voice of UK airlines to be heard loud and clear in these debates by governments, regulators and the media. We wanted a name that will enable us to more easily be and do ‘what it says on the tin’ – and Airlines UK will help us to do that.”
Airlines UK is the trade body for UK registered airlines, with members representing all sectors of the industry. We work with governments, regulators and legislators to promote the interests of UK airlines, and with organisations across the sector to encourage long-term and sustainable growth in aviation.
We formulate opinions and engage with stakeholders on a number of issues, including airport capacity, taxation, sustainable aviation, disruptive passengers and regulation and consumer protection. We are proud members of the Sustainable Aviation, A Fair Tax on Flying and The Sky’s the Limit industry campaigns.
The UK airline industry
The UK has the third largest aviation network in the world, following the USA and China and our members play a key role in helping maintain this world-class status. In 2015, Airlines UK members directly employed 76,000 people and were responsible for some 99% of UK airline output, carrying 144 million passengers and 1 million tonnes of cargo.
Airlines contribute enormously to the vibrancy of the UK economy:
Direct contribution to GDP of £5.2 billion
Overall contribution to GDP of £10.9 billion, when the effects of the supply chain and workforce are added
Support around 200,000 jobs
Goods worth £116 billion shipped by air between the UK and non-EU countries, representing 35% of the UK’s extra-EU trade by value
The express air freight sector facilitates £11 billion of UK exports a year and supports over 38,000 jobs in the exports industry
Who we are
Airlines UK has a small Executive team, based in Westminster and headed by Chief Executive Tim Alderslade and Chairman Jane Middleton. Neal Weston is Head of Policy & Communications and Tim Cade is Policy & Public Affairs Executive.
New European airline association – Airlines for Europe (A4E) – formed to lobby for the industry across Europe
January 21, 2016
Modelled on “Airlines for America” (A4A) which lobbies/advocates Congress and the Administration on behalf of its member airlines, a similar lobbying alliance has been set up and launched in Europe. It calls itself “Airlines for Europe” (A4E) it so far has Europe’s 5 largest airline groups – Air France KLM, easyJet, IAG, Lufthansa Group, and Ryanair as members, and expects to expand. It wants to “represent the interests of its members when dealing with the EU institutions, international organisations and national governments on European aviation issues.” What that means is that it wants to lobby against anything that does not increase competitiveness, lower air fares, or increase airline profits. The particularly want to fight “large scale airport monopolies, high charges, taxation and inefficiencies characterise the aviation supply chain.” In particular they want lower costs at airports; lower costs of air traffic control provision, through completion of the Single European Sky; regulation to prevent air traffic control strikes; use of new technology to make efficiency savings; and using SESAR funding to drive compliance with the Single Sky framework; and they want the removal of what they call “unreasonable taxes” on air travel. All this is justified by predictions of economic benefits and ever more jobs …..
Big five EU airlines join to form new lobbying alliance – to cut taxes and regulations, and make more money
June 18, 2015
The EU’s 5 largest airline groups – Air France-KLM, EasyJet, IAG, Lufthansa and Ryanair – have unveiled plans to establish a new airline lobbying group (not yet named) later this year to present a set of common goals to European regulators. They met in Brussels to set out the initiative. Carolyn McCall said the new entity will be based on the “Airlines for America” lobbying group in the USA and will be “open to all European airlines.” The airlines say there is a “need for a new entity, something new and different” with real “traction”. They want to put on a show of unity and provide a united position on regulatory policy as the new European Commission works on its key aviation package. Carolyn McCall says the new entity will go “live” in October, will represent 4 shared common goals: (1). Development of a European aviation strategy, to have simple regulation, to ensure growth and cut costs. (2). Lowering airport costs through reforming the European airport charges directive. (3). Stopping air traffic management from striking, and using SESAR etc to make savings and more profit. (4). Growing demand for air travel by “removing passenger taxes and unreasonable environmental taxes”. Willie Walsh also wants to “impress on the Commission the risk of and impact of passenger taxes.”
Airlines for America (A4A), formerly known as Air Transport Association of America(ATA), is America’s oldest and largest airline trade association. A4A member airlines and their affiliates transport more than 90% of U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. Based in Washington, D.C., the association advocates for the U.S. airline industry. It is the only trade organization that represents the principal U.S. airlines and is their voice when lobbyingCongress.
Mission
1939 Air Transport Association advertisement with Eleanor Roosevelt promoting commercial air transportation in the US A4A’s stated purpose is to “foster a business and regulatory environment that ensures safe and secure air transportation and enables U.S. airlines to flourish, stimulating economic growth locally, nationally and globally”.
Since its founding in 1936, A4A has played a major role in all government decisions concerning aviation, including the creation of the Civil Aeronautics Board, the creation of the air traffic control system and airline deregulation. It also advocates that the American government implement a national airline policy that will enable U.S. airlines to function as effective multinational enterprises. Furthermore, it believes an element of such a policy is the modernization of the U.S. air traffic management system, the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
