Call for Airport Consultative Committees to improve in key areas

10th March, 2022

Most large airports, and some airfields, are required by law to provide facilities for consultation. In many cases, airports choose to create an Airport Consultative Committee (ACC) as a space for discussion of airport-related issues with those who have an interest or are affected by its operations. This typically includes local residents, consumer groups, and businesses that operate from the airport.

On the 15th of December 2021, the Department for Transport (DfT) wrote to all ACCs to advise them that the Department would be carrying out a short survey in the new year “to improve its view and understanding of ACCs and similar organisations”. The survey opened on the 10th of January. 

The letter, which was brought to AEF’s attention by our members, states: “Our objective is to encourage better working between airports and their ACC’s, and to ensure airport stakeholders and communities have an effective voice in airport-related matters that affect them”.

Some of AEF’s community group members have a seat on their ACC, while others do not. In both cases, a significant number have expressed considerable and sustained concerns about the way in which their ACC is organised and run. Accordingly, we asked our members for their thoughts on the independence, funding, representation, and transparency of their ACC. A summary of members’ views was sent to the DfT.

To see the full letter to the DfT, click here.