Consultation on the Future of Flight

Innovate UK will publish its Strategy for Connected Transport and is seeking input from businesses and researchers on the investment need for aviation

The aviation sector delivers around £18 billion per annum to the UK economy and employs 220,000 people directly and many more indirectly. Globally, the UK has the third largest aviation network after the USA and China[1]. The challenge is to keep people and goods moving efficiently, safely and cleanly whilst the demand for air travel grows 4% annually (from 2014 baseline levels; IATA).

A 5% improvement in average journey times to and from airports could deliver a 2.7% increase in passenger numbers, generating an additional £1.9 billion for the UK economy and supporting an additional 32,000 jobs[2].

There is now a need to ensure a successful industrial innovation programme is in place to support businesses to develop new ideas to address the growing aviation challenges.

Innovate UK will publish its Strategy for Connected Transport in 2018 and is seeking input from businesses and researchers on the investment need for aviation.

[1] Aviation Policy Framework, 2013
[2] Connecting the UK’s economy: How better access to airports can boost the economy, AOA

The Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) is leading the consultation on behalf of Innovate UK. The consultation focuses on the movement of:

·      Passengers

·      Freight

And along the door-to-door journey.

KTN is offering you the chance to input into the consultation by either attending a consultation workshop or by Webex/phone.

The consultation period runs from 7th November 2017 to 29th January 2018.

Consultation workshops

Wednesday 17th January 2018, Church Street, Inverness (10am to 4pm)

Tuesday 23rd January 2018, Hanover Street, Edinburgh (9:30am to 1pm)

Friday 26th January 2018, Business Design Centre, London (9:30am to 1pm)

To participate in any of the above workshops or request a Webex/phone meeting, please contact Michelle Carter