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The union – which represents over 10,000 UK pilots – warns that pilot training, currently costing over £100,000, is unaffordable for many young people today. This means there will not be enough UK-trained pilots to fill airline vacancies in the future.

BALPA is also calling on the government to support the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Last week the union echoed industry calls on the government to ditch plans to raise Airline Passenger Duty.

BALPA General Secretary Amy Leversidge said, “The government has recently cleared the way for millions of pounds of private investment in airport expansion at Heathrow and Gatwick. This investment will bring hundreds of thousands more flights in and out of the UK, with huge economic benefits as a result.

“Now the government needs to make sure that we have enough UK-trained pilots by the time the promised new runways and terminals are built and flights are taking off.

“The private sector, with understandably shorter-term priorities, cannot on its own be relied upon to deliver the long-term investment in training that we need.

“Trainee pilots currently face bills of over £100,000 with no access to grants, student loans or career development loans. I’m asking the Chancellor to be open-minded about the necessary policy changes she could make to ensure we have the pilots we need in the future.

Leversidge added, “To truly see the benefit of an expanded aviation industry we also need the development of UK-based SAF production facilities. This would not only help UK aviation meet the Government’s targets for SAF use, reducing aviation’s environmental impact, but also create a domestic SAF supply that enhances our security and resilience.”

“The rumoured increase in Air Passenger Duty is counter-intuitive after a huge private investment in expanding Heathrow and Gatwick airports. It will hit families going on holiday the hardest. Rachel Reeves should scrap this idea now.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

BALPA represents over 10,000 UK airline pilots.