Today’s warning from NATS is yet another example of the Government’s failure – Andy McDonald

Andy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary,
commenting on the warning from the National Air Traffic Services (NATS) over
airspace, said:

“The Government’s approach to aviation has been to rely on
autopilot while they have a chat among themselves. Labour has been pressing for
action for years on aviation safety, drones and airspace modernisation:
the Government say they are in listening mode but it seems they’re not
listening to anyone in the industry.

“Today’s warning from NATS is yet another example of the
Government’s failure to act and comes as uncertainty over Brexit is
threatening the UK aviation industry. The Government must listen to
what NATS and the industry more broadly are warning and take action to
protect and modernise UK airspace.

“The Government must also urgently provide clarity on our
post-Brexit relationship with the European agencies that maintain aviation
safety standards and through which our air service agreements are
secured. If the Government continue to fail to address the challenges
facing the aviation industry, the UK’s connectivity,
competitiveness and ability to trade with be severely undermined.”