Flying Matters

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Flying Matters is a pro-aviation coalition in the United Kingdom. Members include tourist organisations, airlines, aerospace manufacturers, trade associations, airport operators, growers and others. Formed in June 2007, they have issued briefings, press releases, lobbied Members of Parliament and commissioned advertisements.

Brian Wilson, Chairman is frequently quoted in the press representing Flying Matters. He was a Labour Party member of parliament from 1987 to 2005 and Energy Minister at the Department for Trade and Industry from 2001 to 2003^[1]. Michelle Di Leo, Director is a public affairs practitioner who has also worked for Airport Operators Association^[2] and on the 'Freedom To Fly' campaign^[3] in 2003 during the lead up to the Aviation White Paper^[4]. Until recently she was a partner in a strategic communications consultancy and has also worked for the National Union of Teachers and the British Lung Foundation.

The Flying Matter coalition include trade associations such as the Airport Operators Association[1], Air Transport Users Council[2], British Air Transport Association[3], Society of British Aerospace companies[4] and Tourism Alliance[5]. Tourism bodies and travel agents are also well represented with members including Association of British Travel Agents, Association of Corporate Travel Executives, First Choice, MyTravel and Thomas Cook. A number of airlines operators and manfacturers are members including Airbus, Boeing, British Airways, EasyJet, Flybe, Monarch, Rolls Royce and Virgin Atlantic, as are two airport operators BAA and Manchester Airport. Trade unions include Transport and General Workers Union, Unite - The Union and GMB Union. In addition to the above Farmers Own[6] (growers) and the Fresh Produce Consortium[7] (importers), DHL (freight), Nats (air traffic control), Macquarie Group (finance) and Qinetiq (defence) are also members. A full list is available on their main website^[1].

The organisation was formed early in 2007 and was very busy during the year. The commissioned various polls. They attended the party conferences and argued that in particular that the conservatives position (to limit aviation growth) would loose them votes. They lobbied against restrictions of airport growth generally and were frequently quoted in the press.

The first public news of the organisation is released in May in Brand Republic^[5] and in Airport News ^[6]. The organisation was formally launched late in July with the stated aim of showing that the aviation sector was "taking climate change seriously"^[7]. They accuse Inuit leader of "apocalyptic green spin" at the official enquiry over the expansion of Stansted Airport^[8] and respond the Conservative Party policy of limiting aviation growth^[9]. and give their first details off their proposed advertising campaign featuring "No Entry" signs in front of the Taj Mahal and Sydney Opera House ^[10]

In August BAA, a Flying Matters member, applies for the 'mother of all injunctions' against the Camp for Climate Action which was to be held near Heathrow airport in August.^[11] and wins a much reduced injunction and the protest camp arrives close to Heathrow^[12] Flying Matters publishe a number of briefings: "Aviation and Climate Change"^[13], "Aviation and Tourism"^[14], Aviation and the UK economy^[15], "Aviation and trade with the developing world"^[16] and "Aviation and People"^[17].

In September Flying Matters attend the UK Party conferences. At the Labour conference they sponsor a fringe meeting entitled "going Green" at which Brian Wilson was "taken to task as he defended the growth of airports and spoke against higher taxes"^[18]. An aide to Ken Livingston, the Labour Mayor of London, proposes a tax on "frivolous fliers" - Brian Wilson is quoted as saying: "Deeply offensive, I have never heard of a bigger suicide pill politically than curbing frivolous flights," ^[19]

The Conservative Party propose increased taxes on flights and cars and Brian Wilson is quoted "Taxes which increase the cost of flying will simply price working families out of flying"^[20]. In the run-up to the Conservative Party conference Flying Matters issues press releases titled "Voters in key marginals shun Conservative proposals for higher taxes on air travel"^[21], "'Green' holiday tax plan puts Conservatives 6 per cent behind Labour in 30 most important marginals in the Country"^[22] and "US, China and India bear most responsibility for climate change according to new poll"^[23]

They contribute to a discussions at the Liberal Democrat Party conference.^[24]

In October they issue press releases "Soil Association should not undermine its objectives by potentially damaging producers in the developing world with unrealistic demands"^[25] and Brian Wilson is quoted as saying "Unless teleportation becomes viable in the next few years there is no alternative for them (Kenyan farmers) to get their fresh produce to market in time.”^[26]. Flying Matters accuse Plane Stupid of irresponsibility^[27] and Plane Stupid accuse Flying Matters of spying ^[28]

In December Private Eye reports on a Flying Matters in relation to the Labour Party Conference^[29] and Plane Stupid publish copy of a letter sent privately to MPs lobbying on Climate Change Bill ^[30]. Flying Matters issue press release saying that "Stopping new runways would cost half a million new UK jobs"^[31]

Since 2007 the organisation has been less active.

In October 2008 they announced that after discussion with Pret a Manger and Innocent Drinks, they had both changed their public policy with regard to air freight. Pret a Manger had previously stated that "We believe airfreighting fruit and veg is completely over the top. It's unnecessary and, with the exception of basil leaves (and in the case of an emergency), we don't do it. At certain times of the year, basil lets us down. We're working hard to find a supplier closer to home." After an approach from the Fresh Produce Consortium and Blue Skies they changed their message to "These are challenging questions with no simple answers. We tackle them, one by one. We listen to the arguments and weigh up the evidence. Fingers crossed, we make the right decisions. For instance, whilst we do not airfreight our fruit and veg, we understand that for many farmers, particularly in developing countries, airfreight is an important way to get goods to market and that those goods contribute a great deal towards social and economic development. It’s a sustainability conundrum". smoothie manufacturer Innocent has removed all references to airfreight from its website^[32].

Also in October 2008 in response to a parliamentary vote to approve the Climate Change Bill committing Britain to slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and for the first time including aviation and shipping into the bill Michelle Di Leo, director of the pro-aviation group FlyingMatters said it as a “hollow victory” for environmentalists that was both “ineffective and unfair”^[33].

Their strategy document for the coming years was published by Greenpeace in Febuary 09. ^[34]

Flying Matters commissioned an opinion poll and issued press releases showing that current Conservative Party policies to limit aviation growth^[35] were unpopular with key marginal voters in contrast with a recent poll conducted by MORI on "Attitudes to flying and climate change" for The Airfields Environment Trust.

The Flying Matters poll, conducted by in the top 30 marginal Labour and Liberal Democrat UK parliamentary constituencies^[36] was used as the basis for a number of press releases: "Voters in key marginals shun Conservative proposals for higher taxes on air travel"^[21], "Green' holiday tax plan puts Conservatives 6 per cent behind Labour in 30 most important marginals in the Country"^[22] and "US, China and India bear most responsibility for climate change according to new poll"^[23].

By contrast the The Airfields Environment Trust poll found that 55% of Conservative voters support slower growth (with only 19% opposing) when asked the question "To what extent would you support or oppose a policy aimed at slowing down the growth in air travel?" if first given the climate change introduction. When the preamble was omitted more Conservatives still supported policies to reduce aviation growth than opposed it (35% to 26%)^[37] CrosbyTextor, who conducted the Flying Matters poll are campaign strategists rather than independent polsters and claim to "Devise winning public affairs and media strategies to ensure our clients have the best chance of attaining positive policy outcomes"^[38].

Only some of the questions asked in the Flying Matters poll have been made public (unlike those conducted by MORI). In relation to China the questions were as follows: "If they do have a responsibility, which of the following groups do you think have the MOST responsibility for preventing climate change globally?:The UK Government, Businesses in Britain, Individuals in Britain, Other Western Governments like the USA, Businesses in other Western countries like the USA, Individuals in other Western countries like the USA, Rapidly developing countries like China and India, Individuals in rapidly developing countries like China and India, Businesses in rapidly developing countries like China and India"^[23]. Lynton Crosby and Mark Textor of CrosbyTextor have been accused of exploiting government connections to win support for the Qantas sale to Airline Partners Australia^[39].

Flying Matters have issued a briefing^[13] which states that aviation contribution to climate change is small and that aviation growth should be allowed to continue when this is balanced with the aviation's economic and social benefits. Friends of the Earth have reported that in their opinion the growth in flights will "wreck climate change targets"^[40] and the UK Department for transport forecasts show that by 2050 under current policy that aviation emissions alone is likely to comprise between 33% and 70% of the UK's current target^[41].

They have issued a press release^[42] supporting aviations inclusion in the EU emissions trading system (and for it to be excluded from UK domestic UK emissions). The Tyndall Centre have expressed concern that the emissions trading system for aviation is currently ineffective and that aviation should be brought into the ETS earlier with a lower baseline to bring it into line with other sectors and the Kyoto Protocol^[43] and the Institute for Public Policy Research have reported that the aviation sector is likely to receive a windfall £2.7 billion profit from the current system^[44].

Flying Matters published a briefing in August 2007^[16] titled "Aviation and Trade with the Developing World" that stated that air freight offers a vital market to the developing world and to Kenya in particular; the World Development Movement have given a warning to air passengers that climate change "could kill millions" in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa^[45].

They say that the "Soil Association should not undermine its objectives by potentially damaging producers in the developing world with unrealistic demands"^[25]. The Soil Association themselves say that "Air freight won't be possible in the future - it'll be far too expensive"^[46].

Flying Matters claim that improvement in plane efficiency is the answer, although the aviation industry itself estimates improvements of only 25% by 2020^[47] (with many older planes staying in service for a considerable time afterwards) over a period when aviation is growing at an annual rate of 5% and when the government is considering increasing the UK emissions reduction target from 60% to 80% before 2050^[48].

Flying Matters issues a briefing in August 2007^[17] titled "Aviation and People" which claims that ethnic minorities in the UK will be deprived of contact with their homes unless flight prices remain low. It has also been reported that the home countries of the UK core ethnic minorities[8], both Asian and Black (African and Caribbean), will witness major catastrophes in their home countries due to climate change^[49][50]

Flying Matters issued a briefing in August 2007^[14] titled "Aviation and Tourism" which stated that aviation growth is essential for UK tourism and issused a press release^[51] titled "Families will be priced out of air travel if Heathrow fails to expand". Other people, such as Lonely Planet are calling for people to fly less and stay longer^[52] and there is also strong growth reported in other sectors of the tourism market with people switching from air to rail^[53] and growth in the rail sector generally^[54].

Flying Matters issued a briefing in August 2007 titled "Aviation and the UK economy" which claimed that aviation contributes more than £11 billion to the UK economy and directly and indirectly supports more than 700,000 jobs^[15]. They also issued a press release in December 2007 titled "Stopping new runways would cost half a million new UK jobs"^[31] There are other economic opportunities, with strong growth in other parts of the transport sector, and also in economic areas in response to the call to convert to a low-carbon economy. There is strong growth in the rail sector^[55] and in the renewable energy sector^[56] and climate change is creating is own economic opportunities with insurers warning of potential £16bn recovery costs for potential east coast flooding alone^[57]

The 'predict and provide' approach advocated by Flying Matters, and indeed by the current government has been abandoned within other transport sectors, where demand management strategies are a recognised as an essential tool ^[58].

Flying Matters claim increased runway capacity is the only solution. Greenpeace point out that almost a quarter of flights from Heathrow are to destinations less than 500 km away and already well served by train^[59] and flying is price sensitive and therefore will be responsive to small increases in fares to limit demand^[14].

• Aviation and the environment
• Aviation Environment Federation, the principal UK non-profit making organisation concerned with the environmental effects of aviation
• Plane Stupid, a UK focused non-violent, anti-capitalist direct action group
• Air transport and the environment (United Kingdom)

Aviation and the environment Aviation Environment Federation, the principal UK non-profit making organisation concerned with the environmental effects of aviation Plane Stupid, a UK focused non-violent, direct action group Air transport and the environment (United Kingdom)

• Flying Matters

Other groups

• No Third Runway Action Group
• Stop Heathrow Expansion