You may have read about Westminster's Transport Select Committee's long-awaited report - following last year's Consultation process - on the future of airport development in the south east. The SPAA submitted a detailed and pragmatic response to the Consultation document, and we are heartened by the Committee's largely pragmatic proposals, aired this week. The Committee urges Government to approve a 3rd runway for Heathrow, and expresses interest in the idea of a 4 runway solution. It calls for an objective analysis of the negative impacts of APD on aviation and the wider economy - and for Government to heed and respond to the damage caused by differentiated levels of APD; and it recommends an 'APD holiday' for new services launched by regional airports. 

These are practical, common sense proposals and we urge Government to listen, consider and respond positively to their own colleagues, who recognise the urgent need for development at Heathrow and for a more forward-thinking approach to APD. We will listen to the Government's response with great interest!    

Teams have been signing up for the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen heats of this year's Travel Quiz - and the first Heat is almost upon us ... and our ever-popular Summer Ball comes to a new venue - Edinburgh's well-known and recently refurbished Assembly Rooms. These are exactly the kind of event we all need, to provide us with some much needed respite from the constant challenges and frustrations of our day to day business lives. If you haven't already named your team for the Quiz, do it now - there's just time ... and if you haven't yet booked your ticket for the Ball - get your registration in quickly. They're always busy!