Commercial Air Routes: United Kingdom and East Africa

Viscount Waverley Excerpts

Wednesday 13th February 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Sugg]

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his continued efforts as a trade envoy to Rwanda and Uganda and particularly for his support for UK businesses involved in building Kigali airport. The Government believe that there is a case for changes in slot allocation where there is significant new capacity. Our aviation strategy, Aviation 2050, consults on a wide range of policy proposals designed to increase competition and connectivity both domestically and abroad. That includes looking at existing slot regulations to see how we can promote competition and ensure new long-haul routes, such as those to east Africa, can be delivered.

[Viscount Waverley (CB)]

My Lords, while I agree with the sentiment behind the Question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Popat, would the Minister nevertheless concur that encouraging intraregional trade is essential for multiple reasons and that encouraging an east-west network of air routes should be made a practical reality?

[Baroness Sugg]

I think I agree with what the noble Viscount says. The purpose of our slot reform would be to increase competition and benefit the consumer.