Consultations held on plans to shape British future aviation industry
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E-mail Xinhua, July 22, 2017
LONDON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Airport luggage checks away from airports in city center locations are included in proposals announced Friday to re-shape Britain's aviation industry towards the mid-century.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling launched a consultation on plans to develop a new Aviation Strategy for Britain to cover the next three decades and beyond.
The public are being asked to have their say on how the sector should respond to a range of technological, security, environmental and customer service challenges.
The exercise will look at how the British government can support future growth in an industry which directly supports 240,000 jobs and contributes at least 29 billion U.S. dollars a year to British economy.
Airport bag check-ins in town centers and a "luggage portering" service are among a series of innovative ideas the public is being asked for views on, said the Department for Transport (DfT). Under that plan bags and luggage will be picked up from passengers before they reach the airport.
Other issues include possible new forms of compensation for noise or designing targets for noise reduction.
The government strategy sets out six themes, covering customer service from ensuring the industry is accessible for all and caters for an aging population and passengers with restricted mobility, to how to deal with disruptive passengers. Other themes cover safety and security and counter terrorism threats, global connectivity, a competitive aviation sector, environmental impacts of airports and air travel. The final theme covers innovation, technology and skills looking at emerging technologies.
A spokesman for the DfT said: "The government is also keen for views on how it should support and regulate emerging technologies around personal travel. The document also discusses how we can make best use of existing capacity at all airports around the country."
Grayling announced the strategy at the launch of a 1.3 billion U.S. dollar-program to double the size of Manchester Airport's Terminal 2.
The Manchester project will create 1,500 jobs, allow for more international destinations, and grow passenger numbers from 27 million to 45 million a year.
Grayling said: "Aviation is central to our future prosperity as we leave the European Union. As a global, trading nation we want to build on the great industry we have today and create opportunities for people up and down the country.
"Our new aviation strategy will look beyond the new runway at Heathrow and sets out a comprehensive long-term plan for UK aviation. It will support jobs and economic growth across the whole of the UK. Our vision puts the passenger at the heart of what we do, but also recognizes the need to address the impacts of aviation on communities and the environment." Enditem
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