Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the report entitled, Way to go: improving public transport access to London’s airports, published by London Travel Watch on 18 January 2019, what estimate he has made of the number of people using public transport to reach London airports.

The proportion of air passengers using public transport to reach London airports can be estimated from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Departing Passenger Survey, which includes questions on a passenger’s mode of transport to the airport. Estimates using this data suggest that, in 2017, 56.4m passengers used public transport to travel to and from London airports.

The Department for Transport expects airport operators to establish targets that increase public transport usage as part of their Surface Access Strategies.

The Aviation Strategy 2050 consultation paper proposes a range of measures that aim to support airports in achieving their mode share ambitions, including uprating Airport Transport Forums so that local and central Government, airports, and transport providers have the opportunity to contribute appropriately to the delivery and monitoring of airports mode share and environmental targets.