How Will the New U.K. Government Change the Airline Industry?

It's the morning after a resounding Labour victory in the United Kingdom. As Sir Keir Starmer’s center-left party prepares to ascend to 10 Downing Street, attention turns from campaigning to policy-making.

So what does this seismic change mean for the aviation industry in the U.K. and beyond? Skift takes a closer look at the party’s manifesto and its comments over recent years, to see what could be in store for airlines and other stakeholders. 

Aviation is mentioned in Labour’s manifesto - a written declaration of a party’s policy and aims. Within the 136-page document, it notes two specific areas focused on the industry's long-term future. The first is the promotion of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and the second encourages airspace modernization.

SAF has been a hot topic in the industry for years, and its prominence is only growing. Late last year, Mike Kane, then the opposition Aviation Minister, highlighted that meeting the 10% SAF target is a legal requirement of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and one his party will be meeting.

Notably, in April 2024, the outgoing Conservati