Countryside campaigners CPRE{1} are questioning whether Britain needs a huge expansion of runways and airports over the next 30 years - as the annual Easter airport holiday rush gets underway.

CPRE today (Wednesday) unveils a new tool in its campaign against massive, damaging growth in air transport - a dramatic leaflet and poster which depicts an aircraft engine sucking in the countryside, with the slogan 'Expanding aviation destroys the countryside'{2}.  Thousands of leaflets are being distributed to enable people to express their concern over Government options for bigger or new airports and runways before the close of consultation on 30 June 2003. 

Easter has long been a time when the number of flights from UK airports soars, but CPRE has profound doubts about whether the Government has got its longer term forecasts of growth in air passenger numbers right{3}.  In particular, CPRE points out that:

• the forecasts assume the aviation industry, and budget airlines in particular, continue to benefit from give-away tax exemptions from the Treasury{4}; 
• the industry continues to skip paying for the costs which it imposes on others in terms of environmental damage, air and noise pollution, and the impact on people's quality of life;
• there are already signs that the low-cost market itself is reaching saturation{5}; and
• in 2001, there was a tourism deficit of over £11 billion, created by UK tourists spending more abroad than visitors to the UK spend while here.  The deficit has been growing year on year, sucking money out from the UK economy{6}. 
• Andrew Critchell, CPRE's Aviation Campaigner, said:

'The Government's options for expansion in air travel are based on a never-ending boom in air travel.  There are significant question marks about whether this is feasible, or desirable.  It certainly isn't environmentally sustainable.'

'Surely holidaying in the UK should be more competitive than jetting abroad for a cheap weekend.  This would help our own tourist industry and protect the countryside from damaging development.'

The poster is part of CPRE's ongoing campaign which is calling for an environmentally sustainable air transport policy that recognises the significant damage that air transport inflicts through air and noise pollution, surface transport congestion, development pressure and climate change.  CPRE is urging people to write to the Prime Minister and their MP before the consultation deadline of 30 June.

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE exists to promote the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England by encouraging the sustainable use of land and other natural resources in town and country. We promote positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside and to ensure change values its natural and built environment. Our Patron is Her Majesty The Queen. We have 59,000 supporters, a branch in every county, nine regional groups, over 200 local groups and a national office in central London. CPRE is a powerful combination of effective local action and strong national campaigning. Our President is Sir Max Hastings.

2. The leaflet was commissioned and designed by CPRE Avonside and is now being distributed across the country. A copy of the leaflet, Expanding Airports Destroy the Countryside, is available from CPRE publications.  Additional copies can be made available to readers/listeners by calling CPRE Tel: 020 7981 2869.

3. The forecasts used in the Government's consultation The Future of Air Transport in the UK are extrapolating the recent boom in air transport growth to 2030.  However, a re-run of the forecasting computer, assuming a tax on aviation fuel (equivalent to that on cars) and the introduction of VAT, showed that demand would drop from 501 million passengers per annum (mppa) in 2030 to 315 mppa.  This level of growth could be handled without building any new runways to 2030.

4. The aviation industry currently benefits from a series of tax exemptions.  For example, the industry pays no VAT or tax on aviation fuel.  In 2000 these exemptions amounted to £7.5 billion.

5. In November of last year, Ryanair offered 1.1 million free flights, of which 230,000 were not taken up.  At the time, Michael O'Leary, Chief Executive of Ryanair was quoted in The Times as saying 'there is an inertia there among people.  It's not that they can't afford to go, but that they can't be bothered.'  At the same time, a transport analyst for Commerzbank was quoted as saying, 'there is a limit to how often people want to fly and endure the inconvenience of early starts and airport delays.'  He also added that 'it may come to a point where they [Ryanair] can't stimulate any more demand from low prices.'

6. Source: Overseas Travel and Tourism Business Monitor MQ6, Office of National Statistics.