PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CENTENARY OF POWERED FLIGHT AND THE UK AVIATION INDUSTRY (9 December 2003)

That this House notes that 17th December marks the centenary of powered, sustained and controlled flight; congratulates the UK's aviation industry for playing a major role in both civil and military aviation during that period; believes that aviation is critical to the UK's prosperity; recognises that air travel is essential for business and economic success; realises that almost 180,000 people in the UK are directly employed by the industry and that well over half a million jobs depend on aviation; understands that much of our tourism industry depends on the availability of air travel; appreciates that people in more remote parts of the country require air services for essential journeys; applauds the industry for successfully competing in a deregulated market and opening up air travel to all through lower fares; and wishes the industry well in facing the challenges that need to be addressed as it enters its second centenary.

Sponsored by:
Baroness May of Maidenhead (Conservative)