Practical plans to decarbonise the aviation industry and its links to economic growth were on the agenda when Sustainable Aviation members met with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.

An agreement was also made to unite a coalition of Northern political figures to build on the pathways to net zero to secure investment, deliver jobs and further economic growth in the North West.  

The agreement was made at a roundtable event hosted by Sustainable Aviation (SA) – the UK aviation industry’s coalition focused on delivering a sustainable future for the sector – at Manchester Airport on Friday 21 November.  

The roundtable focused on key regional aviation decarbonisation initiatives including those that are being supported by Manchester Airport – namely its partnership with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) producer NorthPointe – who are working to establish a SAF production site at Stanlow in Cheshire, and its role in the North West’s HyNet project which aims to produce low-carbon hydrogen and develop carbon capture and storage sites. 

The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham was joined by Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive of Sustainable Aviation and its Chair Neil Robinson, Chief Sustainability Officer at Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and Manchester Airport’s Managing Director, Chris Woodroofe. SA members included Airlines UK, Climeworks, DHL, easyJet, Heathrow Airport, Jet2, Phillps 66, TUI, and Virgin Atlantic.

Demonstrating the collaboration between the aviation sector and local government, Mayor Andy Burnham spoke of his support for a sustainable future for the industry, which could reduce its emissions while continuing to deliver the vast economic benefits for the region.  

These benefits are set out in a new regional economic impact study conducted by Sustainable Aviation.  

As part of a series covering nine major economic regions, it details that Manchester Airport’s operations and wider connectivity generated £8.4bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) for the North in 2024. 

It also highlights how more than 66,000 jobs in the North West are supported by the aviation industry, with more than 51,000 generated by aviation in the Manchester region alone.  

The report also quantified the future potential of initiatives discussed at the roundtable, finding that a homegrown SAF industry in the North West could deliver more than 1,500 new jobs and contribute over £219 million to the regional economy. 

Duncan McCourt, Chief Executive of Sustainable Aviation, said:  

“Aviation is driving jobs and economic growth in the North West as our report shows.  

“This is only half the story – as we drive growth, we are also leading the transition to a cleaner aviation sector.  

“Our clear and credible plan to decarbonise is creating a new wave of high-skilled jobs. It was great to meet and agree with Mayor Andy Burnham to convene political leaders to further realise the opportunity of decarbonising the aviation industry for the wider North region.”  

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:  

“Manchester Airport is a key part of our growth ambitions for Greater Manchester. It provides thousands of high-skilled jobs for our residents and is a key growth location which can truly close the North-South divide. 

“It is important that this growth is sustainable and it is very positive to see so many steps being taken in this direction, contributing to Greater Manchester’s carbon neutral ambitions.” 

Manchester Airport Managing Director, Chris Woodroofe said: 

“Decarbonisation is one of our industry’s greatest challenges, but it is also one of our greatest opportunities. 

“The UK has a real chance to create a world-leading SAF industry that will bring significant regional and national economic benefits through the creation of thousands of new green jobs.  I am proud of the role that Manchester Airport is playing to turn that into reality through our partnership with NorthPointe which will establish a direct pipeline of sustainable fuel for our growing operations. 

“We are committed to working hand-in-hand with airlines, fuel producers and policy makers to ensure the North West sits at the heart of the transition to net zero UK aviation by 2050.”