Speaking to TTG at London & Partners’ annual Tourism Means Business conference on Tuesday (29 March), Khan said: "I think they got some things right, and they got some things really wrong."
Khan said the importance of London’s airports had been overlooked, and stressed more needed to be done to help the UK’s aviation sector achieve its ambitious carbon reduction targets.
"I’m not interested in looking backwards to be honest," he said. "Rather than looking backwards at things they got wrong, with the support they didn’t give, it’s more, ‘can we persuade the government to support us now’."
Khan said while he believed "passionately" in achieving net-zero carbon emissions for flights, the realities of air travel could not be overlooked in actually bringing tourists to the UK – and allowing UK tourists to travel overseas.
"I think it’s possible to be someone who believes passionately in getting to carbon zero, but also understands we are an island," Khan told TTG. "People have to get here some way and via air is the obvious way.
"I think it’s also possible to be someone that believes passionately Heathrow and Gatwick are the routes by which many people come, and I’m really proud when you compare our airports to airports around the world. Our airports are fantastic and they do need support."
Khan said he was not in favour of expanding the size of the airports, but rather called for more support in helping them "do what they do". "Heathrow is the gateway in which many millions of people come to our city and our country, it’s the first experience people have," he continued.
"I also recognise that for many Londoners, their jobs are reliant on Heathrow. Many people work in Heathrow so we need to work with them to support them and keep on them to improve their zero-carbon credentials and to make sure they are profitable, vibrant, and they do well."
Khan’s comments came as he, London & Partners, and the wider tourism industry, announced plans for a £10 million international tourism campaign, due to launch in May.
