Wacomms
28 July 2025
Aviation policy has become a key test of ambition for the UK Government’s plans for infrastructure investment.
Our latest report explores how airport expansion can be turned from an announcement into a reality – including new WA public polling exploring the drivers of support and opposition.
After years of debate and despite recent endorsements of expansion plans, the aviation sector still faces uncertainty, inertia and rising international competition. While governments abroad are delivering rapid, large-scale expansions, the UK’s approach has been fragmented, with stalled progress on key national projects and a growing disconnect between capacity and demand.
As demand for air travel grows and the economy looks for new sources of productivity, the UK must resolve how best to plan, approve and deliver airport capacity that meets long-term national needs, while balancing sustainability, public concerns over noise and disruption with the need to drive regional growth and match global competitiveness.
