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Press Releases - 2010

BAR UK Calls for Urgent Review of EU Airline Regulations

21 April 2010 - Issue 05

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), representing over 90 airlines, has called on the UK government to tackle the EU Commission over unfair EU Regulations against member state airlines.

Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive, said:

“The eagerness of the EU and the UK government to publicly state that airlines have a responsibility under EU Regulation EU261/2004, to accommodate and feed passengers booked on flights cancelled by the volcanic disruptions, is a misuse of the regulation.

Regulation EU261/2004 was intended to apply when airlines had individual delays or cancelled flights. It was never intended to apply to wholesale shutdown of the airways system imposed by governmental rulings and without any limitation of time. It is also relevant that airlines cannot immediately resume normal services from the moment that the airspace restrictions are lifted. This Regulation, when used in this way, is draconian, disproportionate and often impractical.

In this particular situation, passengers have in all probability been delayed a lot longer than they might have been and airlines have lost millions every day as a result.”

BAR UK calls for an urgent reassessment of the implementation of this Regulation now and in the future. Not to change anything would be a huge disservice to everybody.

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BAR UK Welcomes Re-start of Airline Operations

21 April 2010 - Issue 04

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), representing over 90 airlines, has welcomed the decision by the relevant authorities to re-open significant areas of UK airspace, particularly Southern England where the UK's busiest airports are located.

Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive, said:

"Safety is understandably the number one priority for everyone and our member airlines recognise the cooperation that took place between NATS, CAA and the Department for Transport (DfT) that enabled the re-opening of UK airspace. A number of airlines have been proactively supporting the required research providing test flight data in order to get their customers flying again. Whilst a review of the length of closure endured is certain to take place and important lessons will surely be learned, our priority must be to ensure a rapid return to full service levels as soon as possible."

BAR UK is fully supporting the authorities with the significant task of restarting airline operations.

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BAR UK Blasts Main Parties Manifestos

13 April 2010 - Issue 03

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), representing over 90 airlines, has strongly criticised the transport policies in the election manifestos of all three main political parties as failing to meet the country’s aviation needs.

Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive said

“The airline industry feels let down by the manifestos of the main political parties in their lack of vision and commitment in addressing the air travel needs of the UK public, industry and the economy. The global competitiveness of the UK is at stake through isolated policies attempting to tax or restrict what is a global industry. Taxation alone can never deliver the benefits that the UK public and industry are demanding.”

The BAR UK board declares that the incumbent government is determined to maintain and increase the exorbitant levels of Air Passenger Duty that affect the UK and visitors alike.

The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats both seek to deny additional runway capacity not only at Heathrow, but also at Gatwick and Stansted. Such policies are no remedy to aircraft stacking over the Home Counties, are highly detrimental to the industry’s efforts to reduce emissions and deny access to global markets for those elsewhere in the UK.

Both these Parties also plan to impose a tax per plane but, significantly, have not stated how this will be structured. The Labour Government had previously failed when they planned the same thing.

Either way, all three main Parties discriminate against flying rather than planning long term solutions for a vital industry.

BAR UK today outlined its five key requirements on aviation for the next Government;

1. To recognise that a third runway at Heathrow is a priority for the UK economy and that this expansion is not funded by the Government. It is required to resist the increasing threat to jobs and the economy from competing hub airports in other countries.

2. To embrace the White Paper and the Civil Aviation Bill ‘The Future of Air Transport’, that was published in 2003 at immense cost, as the template for the industry for the next 30 years and to refrain from piecemeal tampering and short term measures.

3. To reduce Air Passenger Duty (APD) with immediate effect and to completely abolish APD once the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) commences in 2012.

4. To acknowledge that aviation is a relatively low emitter, contributing just 2.5% of global carbon emissions, and assist an already proactive industry with research and technology incentives to reward further efficiency gains.

5. To proactively seek to bring forward planned improvements in European airspace management which is where the quickest and most significant reductions in carbon emissions can be achieved.

BAR UK continues to lobby the political parties upon the importance of effective, integrated and fair transportation policies.

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BAR UK Claims Government ‘Own Goal’
Over Air Passenger Duty

24 March 2010 – Issue 02

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), representing over 90 airlines, has expressed disappointment that the Government has missed an opportunity to change its plans on Air Passenger Duty (APD).

Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive said

“By proceeding with the tax hikes in November, the Chancellor has missed his golden opportunity to rectify the wrongs of APD.

The exorbitant levels of APD will continue to make travel too expensive for so many, not least those who fly to visit friends and relatives, or children, who will continue to be taxed at the adult rate.

Bargain-savvy travellers have already identified that flights may be cheaper by using airports outside of the UK. Ultimately, more emissions would be created and the Treasury would be responsible for reducing its own APD revenues. What an ‘own goal’ that would achieve”.

BAR UK continues its campaign for fairness and transparency in taxation and to protect the interests of UK aviation.

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BAR UK appoints two new board members

12 January 2010 – Issue 01

The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), representing 93 airlines, announces changes to its board.

Mr James Forster, British Airways, has been appointed as Vice Chair. He is succeeding Mr Nigel Milton, Virgin Atlantic Airways, who is leaving the airline.

Mr Richard Midgley, South African Airways, has been appointed as Treasurer following the retirement of Mr Barry Prior of Estonian Air.

Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive said

“We express our gratitude to Nigel and Barry for their contribution and we welcome the expertise of James and Richard as we continue to ensure that the aviation industry is given its due prominence.”

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Images of Mr James Forster and Mr Richard Midgley are available on request.

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Notes to Editors

BAR UK represents over 90 scheduled airlines in the UK in their dealings with Government, Government Departments, Regulators and Airport Operators.

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