The trade body representing ground services firms, Aviation Services UK (ASUK), has called on the incoming government to enhance passenger and cargo capacity at UK airports to drive economic growth.

David Leighton FRSA, ASUK’s chief executive, emphasised the critical role of aviation in supporting the UK economy’s competitiveness and connectivity to international markets. He said: “New infrastructure is urgently needed. Heathrow’s delayed expansion is directly holding back economic growth, as the loss of ad-hoc freighter slots demonstrates.

“Freight – whether moving by air, land, or sea – is the lifeblood of our economy, but the arteries that carry that lifeblood have been clogging up for decades. This is most severe in aviation, where lack of capacity is biting hard.

“The industry’s shared commitment to decarbonisation, in part enabled by the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), underlines why it’s time to reinvigorate the case for sustainable airport expansion.”

ASUK’s comments accompany the release of its ‘Priorities for Government’ report.

Leighton called for clarity on the 2040 Zero Emissions Airport target and urged improvements in charging infrastructure to support the adoption of electrified and hydrogen-powered ground services equipment. He also requested fair and transparent fee structures for infrastructure and power supplied by airports.

ASUK‘s mission is to support a thriving, safe, secure, and sustainable UK aviation sector. Its members now handle around 75% of all UK flights.

Leighton said: “Against a backdrop of rising demand for air travel, lack of capacity will continue to present a significant challenge for any government that stresses the importance of growing the economy.

“As long as capacity constraints endure, a protected pool of slots available for cargo-only flights is essential.

“The system of allocating slots is in need of urgent reform, and there is a compelling case for enhanced regulatory oversight to guard the strategic national interest.”

He also pointed out that limited capacity makes the UK’s supply chains more vulnerable to disruption, underscoring the need for action to improve resilience.

In contrast, political party manifestos have varying levels of focus on aviation.

According to their manifesto, ‘Labour’s first mission in government will be to grow our economy’ and ‘flourishing international business is a vital part of [their] plan for growth’. However, aviation is mentioned only twice, whilst it appears in the Conservative party manifesto only three times.

Labour promises to ‘secure the aviation industry’s long-term future, including through promoting SAFs and encouraging airspace modernisation’. The Conservatives commit to ‘supporting growth and decarbonisation’.

The other parties say they would oppose airport expansion, though the Liberal Democrats say they would place ‘a moratorium on net airport expansion’ and oppose the expansion of airports in the Southeast, including Heathrow. The Green Party would ‘not allow more or bigger airports’.

The Reform manifesto (or ‘contract’) does not mention aviation at all.

“Achieving real economic growth demands a revival of bold ambition; let’s make being the world’s best-connected economy an explicit national policy objective,” Leighton concluded.