Writing for The Times, Manchester Airports Group chief executive Ken O’Toole pointed to new research by WPI Economics showing there are 10 UK service industries poised to grow faster than the rest of the economy over the next decade, worth £10.6 billion.
However, the research also highlighted how these sectors are reliant on international access, which O’Toole said made the aviation sector "a critical enabler of growth".
His comments come after chancellor Rachel Reeves on Monday (23 September) set out her ambition for the UK to achieve the fastest rate of growth in the G7 over the next five years.
O’Toole said to achieve this, aviation would need to be "placed at the heart" of the government’s economic blueprint for the country, namely is new industrial strategy.
"As an island trading nation, we are more reliant on our international air routes than other major economies," said O’Toole. "If we don’t, as a minimum, maintain current connectivity levels, £10.6 billion could be at risk.
"If our starting point is the sluggish economic performance we have seen in recent times, we don’t just want to preserve the global access we already have, but enhance it in order to turbo-charge growth."
The WPI study identified the UK as the second largest exporter of services globally, home to "hundreds" of internationally-focused service sector businesses.
"We need the right policy support to deliver the connectivity these globally ambitious firms crave, while also hitting our shared net zero target," added O’Toole.
"That means making enough sustainable aviation fuel here in the UK, it means investing in high-speed rail connections between cities and airports, and it means developing regional growth strategies that recognise the importance of our links with the world’s most important markets.
"Put simply, playing to our strengths means putting a sustainable growth plan for aviation at the heart of a sustainable growth plan for the UK."
