More people think the aviation industry should focus on improving flight punctuality rather than reducing emissions, a new survey suggests.
Some 63 per cent of UK adults said ensuring planes take off and land on time should be a priority for the sector, research by Air traffic control (ATC) provider Nats has revealed.
That is compared with 56 per cent who said the same for cutting emissions.
The figure for reducing emissions is up from 53 per cent in 2024, but down from 70 per cent in 2020.
The government has a target for the UK aviation industry to reach net zero for carbon emissions by 2050.
There are concerns that green policies – such as using more sustainable aviation fuel – could lead to higher air fares.
Nats said it has worked closely with aviation partners over the past 12 months to enhance punctuality and resilience.
This includes using tools such as intelligent approach, which optimises the distances between arriving aircraft.
Nats said it was responsible for 1.2 per cent of total delays to flights en route to Europe in June, despite handling nearly a quarter of air traffic.
Thousands of UK airline passengers have suffered delays because of industrial action by French ATC staff in recent months.
The survey indicated that 52 per cent of UK adults had flown internationally in the previous 12 months, while 32 per cent flew domestically.
Some 26 per cent of respondents expected to fly more in the following year.
The poll also suggested there is growing acceptance of aviation innovation such as drones, flying taxis and AI-enabled services.
For example, 68 per cent of respondents supported using AI to screen bags while 50 per cent were in favour of it managing flight routing.
Simon Warr, Nats’ communications director, said: “The 2025 Aviation Index highlights the public’s clear priorities: reliable service, greater environmental performance, and smart use of innovation.
“As the aviation industry continues to modernise, aligning with these expectations will be key to maintaining public trust and delivering the benefits aviation brings to society.”
– The survey of 1,217 UK adults was conducted online by research company Ipsos on April 9 and 10.
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