Airport Operators Association meet the Minister

Theresa Villiers, Minster of State for Transport, whose responsibilities include aviation, was the guest of honour for the second year running at the Airport Operators Association’s (AOA) summer network party last week at St Stephens Club, Westminster.  Due to Commons business she departed after 30 minutes and was not subject to any questions.

In a short speech the Minister failed to mention the question on everyone’s lips, Heathrow and the third runway, unlike her boss, Secretary of State Phillip Hammond who led off with that topic at the Aviation Club a couple of weeks previously.

Ms Villiers, a former lecturer and member of the European Parliament, but lacking any business or air transport experience (RAF Hendon, in her constituency, closed in 1987) held out little help for a reduction in APD and pointed out her support for the new proposed ATOL package.  Her discourse emphasised the Coalitions efforts in the air transport area, which most experts agree do not focus on the core of the problem, the UK’s future role involving international travel.  Comment on the so-called scoping document has been further extended until 30 September 2011 she noted. She is in favour of High Speed 2 and against the Thames Estuary airport project. www.aoa.org.uk

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum