Reflecting on a fantastic year of the Aviation Council

Chief Executive Officer at London Gatwick, Stewart Wingate has shared some reflections on 2023 as the Co-Chair of the Aviation Council. 

Ahead of this month’s meeting of the Aviation Council, I wanted to thank Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom Ministers, officials and fellow industry colleagues for coming together this past year and committing their time and attention to the issues we face as an industry. The Aviation Council was formed last year by Ministers and officials following the publication of Flightpath to the Future, and particular thanks has to go to Baroness Charlotte Vere for her diligence and tenacity in getting the Council airborne. We all look forward to working with Minister Anthony Browne MP in his capacity as Chair of the Aviation Council. 

I was delighted to be asked to be Co-Chair last year to represent our industry. I passionately believe that the UK is an aviation superpower, having spent the last fifteen years as Gatwick’s CEO; seeing the best (record passenger numbers in 2019) and the worst (the Covid-19 pandemic) of the sector during that time. We are nearly back to that trajectory of growth and the decade ahead contains the promise that the UK will be a world-leading aviation sector in all aspects of the term, including sustainability and managing our environmental impacts. 

Looking back at the discussion we had in that inaugural Aviation Council twelve months ago on the priorities for the year ahead – airspace modernisation; skills, recruitment and retention; and slots –I’m pleased to say we have made progress against all of these areas.

Airspace Modernisation – An Industry Working Group was formed to consider the challenges to delivering Airspace Modernisation, including areas such as resourcing and process implementation. As a direct result of this work, we hope to move forward with a new framework for delivery – the Single Design Entity – supported by a dedicated project team with open and transparent governance and engagement. If the SDE is successful, it could be used in other areas of the UK’s airspace to support accelerated delivery. We also saw a refreshed CAP1616, which will lead to a more streamlined and proportional guidance for the approval of airspace change. 

Skills, recruitment and retention – Organisations of all sizes and shapes across the sector worked hard to ensure that the airport operation, airlines and ground handlers were sufficiently trained and resourced for the busy summer season. Council members collaborated closely on improving operational performance and sharing best practise on recruiting and retaining the talent that keeps all of our airports and airlines moving. We also saw a Ground Handlers Association formed, with the immediate focus of the group on security and vetting processes in the wider context of resilience. 

In July’s meeting, we heard from Sam Screpis (FLPI) (Chair of the Aviation Industry Skills Board (UK) and Kerissa Khan MRAeS (President of the Royal Aeronautical Society). The message back from both was that a collaborative approach between Government and industry was needed to increase attainment of STEM skills as well as improve diversity within the sector. I am sure we will come back to this issue in the future, especially as the recently opened STEM Centre at London Gatwick will provide useful insight in what works in promoting aviation and STEM-based careers to local schoolchildren and what can be improved. 

Slot reform – I was personally pleased that this issue was discussed in last October’s meeting and a significant consultation followed in December, testing Government proposals on increasing the efficiency and transparency of the slot allocation system and how significant new capacity could be allocated in the future. Naturally, there will be a range of views within the aviation industry on each of these topics individually, let alone all thirteen under consideration; but there is a clear recognition amongst airports and airlines that the system is ripe for change and there is a better way ahead. 

2024 will be a critical year for the aviation sector. Against a backdrop of political and global uncertainty, we must work together to ensure our operations are as resilient as possible and demonstrate delivery on the issues that matter most to our passengers and stakeholders. 

Your travel planning isn’t complete without learning the language—or at least some essential phrases. Fully immerse yourself in the language, or use Phrasebook to learn travel essentials—the choice is yours!