Passenger numbers fell drastically during the height of the pandemic, leading to layoffs and grounded aircraft. In response, the government has unveiled its 'Flightpath to the future', a strategic framework outlining how it plans to aid the sector in recovery.

It details how aircraft emissions can be cut, including shorter-term plans to blend 10 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into the UK fuel mix by 2030. Estimates suggest a UK SAF industry could generate between £700m and £1.6bn in gross value added (GVA) per year, creating between 5,000 and 11,000 green jobs.

In the longer term, the “ultimate goal” is to have “nothing less than guilt-free, zero-emission flying” the strategy states.

Achieving this goal will include more use of aircraft such as drones and electrical vertical take-off and landing (Evtol) aircraft. Additional funding will be allocated to the Civil Aviation Authority to help scale-up support for these new aircraft technologies...