Aviation is primarily a leisure industry – it’s not vital to the UK economy | Letter
Gatwick’s second runway is guaranteed to be a dangerous mistake, writes Roger Haydon Gatwick’s second runway ( Gatwick airport to open second runway after legal challenge fails, 4 August ) is guaranteed to be a fundamental and dangerous mistake – as will be any airport expansion. Aviation wants to persuade us all into thinking it can be business as usual plus. But it can’t. In the face of…
In his letter, Roger Haydon argues that constructing a second runway at Gatwick Airport would be a catastrophic error, and that any expansion of airports is similarly misguided. He contends that the aviation industry's push for continued growth is built on a foundation of falsehoods. Haydon asserts that the climate crisis demands that we halt the further heating of our planet through additional flights.
He emphasizes that the aviation sector's primary purpose is not economic necessity, but rather leisure travel. Over 80% of passengers utilizing UK airports are on holiday, while business travel has significantly decreased. The Office for National Statistics reports that the UK experienced a £46.1bn tourism deficit in 2024. Haydon urges the UK government to recognize these truths and cease enabling aviation's misleading narratives.
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