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Report: Available airport capacity under a 2050 CO2 target

9th March, 2012

Available UK airport capacity under a 2050 CO2 target for the aviation sector is a report written by AEF for WWF-UK in July 2011. 

Key conclusions are that:

  • The Government’s decision to halt runway expansion in the South East is justified, as available airport capacity in the region is already sufficient to meet the maximum levels of future demand that would be consistent with the limits recommended by the Committee on Climate Change.
  • A new airport in the South East to further expand capacity, such as in the Thames Estuary, is not necessary.
  • Overall, the level of demand growth permissible within the CCC’s ‘likely scenario’ can be easily achieved with existing UK airport capacity.