If you have used Lydd Airport and would like us to develop our services, you can bring some people power to the political process.

You can either simply register your comments with us or, better, write to The Department for Transport at the address on the right. If you would like to be kept in touch with developments just click comments and send us your email address.

• Air Transport is committed to meeting customer demand in a sustainable manner, maintaining an optimal balance between economic progress, social development and environmental responsibility.
• Today’s aircraft are typically 75% quieter (minus 20 decibels (dB)) than the first jets of the 1960’s. Research efforts in Europe target overall reductions of 6 dB by 2008-2010. A longer term goal of a 10bD reduction per aircraft operation is expected for 2020.
• Luton Airport has become the latest partner in Cambridge-MIT Institute's 'Silent' Aircraft Initiative. Together, this army of academics and representatives from the civil aerospace / aviation industry hope to develop an aeroplane that is radically quieter than current passenger aircraft. The aim of the 'Silent' Aircraft
  Initiative is to discover ways to dramatically reduce aircraft noise to the point where it would be virtually unnoticeable to people outside the airport perimeter. Fellow partners in the project include British Airways, Boeing, the Civil Aviation Authority, Cranfield University, Marshalls Aerospace, National Air Traffic Services, and Rolls-Royce.For further information Click:http://www.cambridge-mit.org/research/sai
• When considering the total European population affected by transport noise 7% live around airports, while 14% reside along rail tracks and 79% along roads.
• The noise footprint or area around an airport is much smaller than that of a passing high speed train, which creates disturbance all the way from origin to destination.
• Objective research shows that air travel is one of the safest modes of transport.
• The total jobs created, including directly employed at the airport, indirectly employed (service companies) and induced jobs (companies that develop as a result of the opportunities the airport creates) are measured at 4,000 per million passengers carried.
• Kent and the Region benefit from Airports. Access to international airports identified in SEEDA’s (South East England Development Agency)Regional Economic Strategy as key factor in inward investment decisions.
• Airports also help the region’s and Kent’s gateway role.
• SEEDA’s Regional Economic Strategy identifies South Kent and Sussex coast as Priority Regeneration Areas and South and East Kent as Priority Rural Areas.
• Sub-regional priorities of SEEDA - Kent and Medway Economic board – Airport links to key priorities such as ‘Helping business to create wealth (inward investment strategies with Locate in Kent / Kent Toursim Alliance).
• Also SEEDA identifies Tourism and Transport as SE Priority Sectors.
• Links to the proposals to develop a Regional Transport Strategy and helps contribute to a sustainable approach.
• Links to ‘Kent Structure Plan’ ‘Channel Tunnel Corridor’ – 1 of 4 sub-regions identified. Key here is that Lydd is not in competition with Manston if linked to Channel Tunnel Corridor on contrary in terms of overall development of Kent it will help complement development in east Kent by spreading locational advantages of East Kent.
• Enables Lydd to potentially complement growth Plans in Shepway and Ashford.
• Also KCC’s (Kent County Council) ‘Vision for Kent’ through potential positive link to inward investment.
• The development at Lydd complements the Channel Tunnel rail Link & South East Multi-modal studies / opportunities for fully integrated transport hub.