Caroline has labelled the Davies Commission’s findings as ‘deeply disappointing’. Lucas is calling for an end to airport expansion and for the Government to look at proposals to change the taxation around aviation to discourage ‘frequent flyers’ while cutting taxes for those who fly less frequently.

The plan, backed by the Campaign for Better Transport, the New Economics Foundation, the Tax Justice Network, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth among others, would see air passenger duty scrapped and replaced by a new frequent flyers levy. Everyone would be able to take one flight a year without paying any levy, but for subsequent journeys the levy would rise each time.

Caroline said:

“It’s deeply disappointing that Howard Davies is proposing expansion at Heathrow.

“The reality is that endless growth in our aviation capacity is incompatible with the UK's climate change commitments. It's also bad news for local residents who will suffer enormously from increasing noise and air pollution.

"It's clear that a small minority of wealthy individuals are fuelling the demand for airport expansion - not families taking an annual holiday or businesses.  We need fairer and more honest approach to the aviation debate that rules out airport expansion once and for all. The Government must urgently look into the proposed frequent flier levy as a fair way of reducing the demand for flights from those who fly the most, whilst benefiting the majority of people and protecting us all from the threat of climate change."