A record 292 million passengers travelled through UK airports in 2018, the CAA’s latest passenger figures reveal.
However, passenger growth has more than halved in that time to 2.7% year-on-year compared to 6% in 2017 and 6.7% in 2016.
Most significantly, growth in UK-EU passenger numbers fell to 1.3% against 7.6% in 2017 as fewer people flew to the continent.
Conversely, long-haul travel to and from non-EU destinations rose to 6.7% year-on-year, up from 5.1% in 2017.
Domestic traffic, meanwhile, grew 1%, down from 1.7% in 2017.
Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association (AOA), said the stall in growth made it imperative the government looks again at Air Passenger Duty (APD).
“Aviation growth benefits not just people looking to travel, but supports high-quality jobs in the aviation and tourism industries right across the UK,” said Dee.
“Furthermore, aviation connectivity enables businesses to travel and export. This growth and the benefits it brings to the UK economy cannot be taken for granted.
“Ensuring the UK has the right connectivity is crucial for the government’s Global Britain ambitions. Airports expect to hear an ambitious message of support for sustainable aviation growth in the government’s planned aviation strategy, including on making best use of existing capacity and investing in airports’ surface access.
“Action should also include a reduction in Air Passenger Duty, which acts as a brake on connectivity growth.
“APD is the world’s highest departure tax, double the rate of the next-highest such tax in the EU, in Germany. Airspace modernisation will also be needed to boost growth by preventing rising delays, reducing noise and emissions as well as freeing up airspace capacity for travel to new destinations.”
